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

Unauthorized/unlicensed vendors. —Ed Masley, AZCentral.com, 19 Feb. 2026

For the second time in less than a dozen years, the Georgia Supreme Court overturned the conviction of a former babysitter accused of killing an infant at her unlicensed day care. —Shaddi Abusaid, AJC.com, 18 Feb. 2026

Victims who were scammed by the owner of an unlicensed pet crematorium in Baltimore County testified before the Maryland House of Delegates on Wednesday. —Caroline Foreback, CBS News, 18 Feb. 2026

Over the past year, several states including Massachusetts and Nevada have moved to restrict prediction markets, filing lawsuits, issuing cease-and-desist letters and arguing that the platforms amount to unlicensed gambling. —Hannah Parker, NBC news, 17 Feb. 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)