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

For travelers who treat their passports as unofficial scrapbooks, few souvenirs are as satisfying as a fresh immigration stamp. — Bailey Berg, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 Oct. 2026

The director puts out an unofficial shortlist of potential winners every year. — Michael Birnbaum, Washington Post, 8 Oct. 2026

The unofficial rate had risen to more than 1,600 dinars to the dollar before the official devaluation was announced. — ABC News, 7 Oct. 2026

Low-rise, slouchy jeans were the unofficial street style uniform of Milan Fashion Week. — Angela Velasquez, Footwear News, 7 Oct. 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