unlicensed

adjective

un·​li·​censed ˌən-ˈlī-sᵊn(t)st 

: not licensed: such as

a

: not authorized or permitted by a license

unlicensed merchandise

an unlicensed firearm

the unlicensed reproduction of books

b

: operating without a license

unlicensed vendors

an unlicensed electrician

unlicensed brokers

unlicensed drivers

Examples of unlicensed in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

And almost 90% of undocumented children are now being held in unlicensed ORR shelters in Texas, exempt from oversight and inspections. — Gavin Yamey, STAT, 11 Nov. 2026

So in the war between unlicensed small hemp businesses that popped up across the nation, and large multi-state organizations (MSOs) that dominate the industry, the big guys won. — Robert McCoppin, Chicago Tribune, 10 Nov. 2026

The American Gaming Association has been fighting prediction markets as unlicensed gambling. — Contessa Brewer, CNBC, 6 Nov. 2026

New York state sued Kalshi and Polymarket this year, claiming that the companies each ran unlicensed sports gambling businesses. — Mike Vorkunov, New York Times, 26 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1577, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for unlicensed

• licenced
• licensed

Medical Definition

unlicensed

adjective

un·​li·​censed

variants or chiefly British unlicenced

-ˈlīs-ᵊn(t)st

: not licensed

especially, of a drug : not approved for use by the appropriate regulating authority (as the Food and Drug Administration in the United States)