unlicensed

adjective un·li·censed \ ˌən-ˈlī-sᵊn(t)st \

|Updated on: 16 Jun 2018

Definition of unlicensed

: 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

See unlicensed defined for English-language learners

Recent Examples of unlicensed from the Web

Police said Davis got into a hack, or unlicensed cab, and pulled a gun on the driver.

— jessica anderson, baltimoresun.com, "Third trial opens for Keith Davis Jr. in fatal shooting of Pimlico security guard in 2015," 12 June 2018
The incident happened on Sept. 27 at the couple's home in the 3600 block of Harding, where authorities said Samantha Eubanks was operating an unlicensed daycare.

— Detroit Free Press, "Dearborn man pleads guilty in daycare shooting case," 11 June 2018
LoRa is a long range, spread-spectrum wireless technology that uses unlicensed spectrum in the ISM bands (such as 169MHz, 433MHz, 868MHz and 915MHz).

— sean gallagher, Ars Technica, "We know you hate the Internet of Things, but it’s saving megafauna from poachers," 6 June 2018
Methvin, 40, and Douglas Michael Nickerson, 41, were arrested by St. Augustine police after officers responded to a parking lot on South Dixie Highway at 6 a.m. Saturday after someone called in a complaint about an unlicensed driver.

— howard cohen, miamiherald, "A woman named Crystal Methvin was charged with drug possession. Guess which kind?," 31 May 2018
An Everett police officer who was responding to an overdose call on Friday evening was involved in a crash with an unlicensed driver on Broadway, police said on Facebook.

— josh coe, BostonGlobe.com, "Everett police officer involved in crash while responding to an overdose," 26 May 2018
The law also requires unlicensed clinics -- those that provide resources such as vitamins and diapers but have no medical providers on site -- to disseminate a notice that they are not licensed by the state.

— CNN, "Justices skeptical of California abortion notification law," 20 Mar. 2018
But many South African women still find themselves in the shady backrooms and unlicensed clinics advertised on the streets.

— The Economist, "Legal yet uneasyWhy South African women are opting for clandestine abortions," 1 Feb. 2018
Two suburban residents appeared in federal court Thursday morning on charges related to the sale of fentanyl and fentanyl precursors over the internet using unlicensed businesses.

— rick kambic, chicagotribune.com, "2 Chicago-area companies sold narcotics online and shipped from local warehouses, prosecutors say," 31 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'unlicensed.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of unlicensed

1577

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

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Medical Dictionary

unlicensed

adjective un·li·censed

variants: or chiefly British unlicenced \-ˈlīs-ᵊn(t)st\

medical Definition of unlicensed

: 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)

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unlicensed

Definition of unlicensed

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unlicensed

medical Definition of unlicensed

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