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

The following are final but unofficial results of local races across Northwest Arkansas in Tuesday's election. — Nwa Democrat-Gazette, Arkansas Online, 9 Nov. 2026

But Merrick Garland, already rejected by the Republican Senate who refused to act on his nomination, placed first in the American Bar Association Journal’s unofficial shortlist in 2016. — Hugh Cameron, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Nov. 2026

Here’s a look at how Chicago voted, according to unofficial results as of Thursday night. — Claire Malon, Chicago Tribune, 6 Nov. 2026

As of Thursday night, results were still unofficial, and the race for Georgia House District 29 was too close to call. — Monique John, CBS News, 6 Nov. 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