unofficial

adjective

un·​of·​fi·​cial ˌən-ə-ˈfi-shəl 

also -ō-

: not authorized or acknowledged by a government, group, class, or society : not official

unofficial results

an unofficial policy

unofficially adverb

Examples of unofficial in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Ahead of their first preseason game Saturday against the Rams, the Chiefs released an unofficial depth chart, and there weren’t any big surprises. — Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 12 Aug. 2026

The Canton Township Clerk's Office says more than 800 absentee ballots were left out of the township's unofficial election night reporting totals from the August primary. — Joseph Buczek, CBS News, 12 Aug. 2026

Lee lives and works in a rare books store tucked in the heart of Tulsa – a local refuge and unofficial community hub. — Denise Petski, Deadline, 12 Aug. 2026

Although Italy was arguably more prolific in this area, the freewheeling attitudes of Hong Kong film studios in that industry’s golden era meant that unofficial sequels were not uncommon there, either. — Katie Rife, IndieWire, 11 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1784, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for unofficial

• artificial
• beneficial
• cicatricial
• interstitial
• nonjudicial
• nonofficial
• prejudicial
• sacrificial
• superficial
• extrajudicial
• semiofficial
• initial

Medical Definition

unofficial

adjective

un·​of·​fi·​cial ˌən-ə-ˈfish-əl 

: not official

specifically : of, relating to, or being a drug not described in the United States Pharmacopeia and National Formulary compare nonofficial, official