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

But over the past year, law enforcement in both Missouri and Kansas has been more aggressive against unlicensed cannabis stores. —Jack Harvel, Kansas City Star, 26 Mar. 2026

But the seller might then do the work themselves, hire unlicensed workers or fail to make the repairs at all. —Lew Sichelman, Miami Herald, 25 Mar. 2026

Gourkani contacted Gomez, who ran an unlicensed cosmotology business out of Florida, about silicone injections to increase the size of her buttocks, Wagstaffe said. —Los Angeles Times, 25 Mar. 2026

An unlicensed cosmetologist from Florida has been found guilty in a California court for providing an injection that killed a model who was known as a Kim Kardashian lookalike, prosecutors said. —Tim Fang, CBS News, 24 Mar. 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)