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

Mejer has now been charged on suspicion of felony child endangerment and felony accessory after the fact of a crime, as well as misdemeanors for contributing to the delinquency of a minor, loaning a motor vehicle to an unlicensed driver and providing false information to an officer. —Grace Toohey, Los Angeles Times, 22 Apr. 2026

Competition from unlicensed and unregulated hemp companies has led to declining prices and falling revenue. —Robert McCoppin, Chicago Tribune, 21 Apr. 2026

The goal is to ostensibly prevent piracy and unlicensed sharing. —Justyn Newman, PC Magazine, 21 Apr. 2026

However, despite the deluge of social media posts from hair transplant recipients, the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery warns that many Turkish hair clinics are unlicensed and lack proper medical oversight. —Cindy Krischer Goodman, Miami Herald, 9 Apr. 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)