unidentified

adjective

un·​iden·​ti·​fied ˌən-ī-ˈden-tə-ˌfīd 

-ə-ˈden-

: not having a known or established identity : not identified

unidentified flying objects

an unidentified suspect

Synonyms of unidentified

• one
• unnamed

Examples of unidentified in a Sentence

an unidentified worker reported the security breach

some unidentified person helped them and then left quietly

Recent Examples on the Web

His two passengers, a 22-year-old man and an unidentified adult woman, were also left in critical condition. —Madeline King, Chicago Tribune, 1 Mar. 2026

Citing unidentified sources, the semiofficial Fars news agency reported that several relatives of Khamenei were also killed, including a daughter, son-in-law, daughter-in-law and grandchild. —Jon Gambrell, Fortune, 1 Mar. 2026

Investigators determined that two unidentified men had been shot at the location. —Elissa Jorgensen, Dallas Morning News, 1 Mar. 2026

Registered drones are avoided; unidentified drones are flagged for further evaluation. —Jan Wagner, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Feb. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1861, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing unidentified

• unidentified aerial phenomenon
• unidentified anomalous phenomenon
• unidentified flying object

Rhymes for unidentified

• acetaldehyde
• acetanilide
• arabinoside
• cycloheximide
• cyclophosphamide
• diethylamide
• dinucleotide
• ferricyanide
• ferrocyanide
• glutaraldehyde
• glyceraldehyde
• hydroperoxide