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

Federal agents captured 18 immigrants facing deportation during their April 27 raid on an unlicensed Colorado Springs nightclub, according to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. —Max Levy, Denver Post, 9 May 2025

The unlicensed pickup truck driver McClean hit fled the crash. —Kerry Burke, New York Daily News, 8 May 2025

Even before Trump’s Inauguration, a city campaign named Operation Restore Roosevelt had forced the removal of many unlicensed street venders from the area, compounding the eerie quiet. —Jordan Salama, New Yorker, 5 May 2025

In July, Mayor Muriel Bowser signed emergency legislation allowing a multi-agency task force that includes ABCA, the police and the attorney general to padlock unlicensed operations. —Anna Spiegel, Axios, 24 Apr. 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)