Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
×

An Encyclopædia Britannica Company

unofficial

play
adjective un·of·fi·cial \ˌən-ə-ˈfi-shəl also -ō-\

Definition of unofficial

  1. :  not authorized or acknowledged by a government, group, class, or society :  not official unofficial results an unofficial policy

unofficially

adverb

See unofficial defined for English-language learners

Indulge Your Inner Word Nerd

video-title-words-of-the-year-1066
Words of the Year: 1066
alt-597233d35a146
Trending: 'Scaramouch,' Scaramucci Possibly to Fandango
emoji-the-quiz
The Emoji Quiz
alt-59721dd897313
The 'Best' Way to Sign Off On An E-mail

First Known Use of unofficial

1784

UNOFFICIAL Defined for Kids

unofficial

adjective un·of·fi·cial \ˌən-ə-ˈfi-shəl\

Definition of unofficial for Students

  1. :  not official

unofficially

adverb

Medical Dictionary

unofficial

play
adjective un·of·fi·cial \ˌən-ə-ˈfish-əl\

Medical Definition of unofficial

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

Learn More about unofficial

  1. See words that rhyme with unofficial Spanish Central: Translation of unofficial Nglish: Translation of unofficial for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of unofficial for Arabic speakers

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up unofficial? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show hide

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

WORD OF THE DAY

gauche

play

lacking social experience or grace

Get Word of the Day daily email!

TRENDING NOW

  1. scaramouch A new White House communications director

  2. non sequitur “It does not follow”

  3. admiral's mast A massive search ends with an 'admiral's mast'.

  4. calumny 'An untrue statement that is made to damage someone's reputation'

  5. kakistocracy Frustrated Twitter users have been searching for this word.

SEE ALL

BROWSE DICTIONARY

unofficial

Test Your Vocabulary

The Emoji Quiz

  • emoji-the-quiz
  • What phase of the moon is this: 🌖 ?
How Strong Is Your Vocabulary?

Test your vocabulary with our 10-question quiz!

TAKE THE QUIZ
SCRABBLE® Sprint

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

alt-59721dd897313
The 'Best' Way to Sign Off On An E-mail

Give them your best

image386126722
Words and Phrases That Come from the Dinner Table

Fill your plate with these surprising food words

ghost-being-disinvited-from-party
'Disinvite' or 'Uninvite'?

A disinvited guest is an uninvited problem

alt-596f730ceb5ae
Words We're Watching: 'Scoby'

Kombucha lovers unite.

Ask the Editors

video-title-words-of-the-year-1066
Words of the Year: 1066

Or, Why Pig Meat is Called 'Pork' and Cow Meat is Called 'Beef'

payday
How Often Is 'Biweekly'?

Don't get us started on 'bimonthly'

video-irregardless-grammar-peeve-blend-of-the-synonyms-irrespective-and-regardless
Irregardless

It is in fact a real word (but that doesn't mean you should use it).

video-moose-goose-weird-plurals
Weird Plurals

One goose, two geese. One moose, two... moose. What's up with that?

Word Games

emoji-the-quiz
The Emoji Quiz

Think you’re an emoji 👓 expert? Let’s see 🤔

Take the quiz
image941935269
A Game of Thrones Word Quiz

In the Game of Thrones quiz, you learn some new vocabulary. (It’s quite safe, really. You will not die.)

Take the quiz
How Strong Is Your Vocabulary?
How Strong Is Your Vocabulary?

Test your vocabulary with our 10-question quiz!

Take the quiz
SCRABBLE® Sprint
SCRABBLE® Sprint

SCRABBLE® fans, sharpen your skills!

Play the game