unofficial

adjective

un·​of·​fi·​cial ˌən-ə-ˈfi-shəl How to pronounce unofficial (audio)
 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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Bush, 6-4 and 220 pounds, took an unofficial visit to Arkansas on March 15 and an official visit in June. Arkansas Online, 22 Oct. 2025 Beshear is on the unofficial short list of 2028 presidential candidates. Jolene Almendarez, Cincinnati Enquirer, 21 Oct. 2025 Nine wins felt like an unofficial cutoff for the CFP selection committee last year, but remember, if Clemson hadn’t won the ACC championship to steal a bid, Alabama would have gotten in at 9-3 over 10-2 Miami, 10-2 BYU and 10-3 Iowa State. Ralph D. Russo, New York Times, 19 Oct. 2025 The young Irwin is no doubt his dad’s mini-me, long an unofficial spokesperson for his beloved home. Rachel Chang, Travel + Leisure, 19 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for unofficial

Word History

First Known Use

1784, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of unofficial was in 1784

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Unofficial.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unofficial. Accessed 23 Oct. 2025.

Medical Definition

unofficial

adjective
un·​of·​fi·​cial ˌən-ə-ˈfish-əl How to pronounce unofficial (audio)
: not official
specifically : of, relating to, or being a drug not described in the United States Pharmacopeia and National Formulary compare nonofficial, official

More from Merriam-Webster on unofficial

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