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

Tier 2 users get interference protection from users of Tier 3, which is made available in a manner similar to unlicensed spectrum. —ArsTechnica, 9 June 2025

The owner of a Miami cosmetic surgery center has been accused of not only allowing unlicensed doctors to cut open patients, but participating in at least one unlicensed surgery, then trying to reopen her center in an unlicensed location. —David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 1 June 2025

Arenas later pleaded guilty to a felony charge of carrying an unlicensed pistol and was sentenced to two years of probation and 30 days in a halfway house, per NPR. —Nasha Smith, People.com, 6 May 2025

Cannabis industry leaders want to shut down their competition, saying unlicensed hemp undercuts those who went through arduous cannabis licensing. —Robert McCoppin, Chicago Tribune, 3 June 2025

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)