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

But what happened next in the comments turned the post into an unofficial recruiting event. —Ryan Brennan april 22, Miami Herald, 22 Apr. 2026

This unofficial wartime arrangement, which has elevated certain Iranian officials to positions of leadership, has left even the regime’s most loyal supporters confused over who is making decisions. —Mostafa Salem, CNN Money, 21 Apr. 2026

However, the unofficial use of the chief predated his official selection. —Mike Danahey, Chicago Tribune, 21 Apr. 2026

Reis talked her way onto a crew member’s unofficial salvage expedition. —Julian Lucas, New Yorker, 20 Apr. 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