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.
No international player has ever been universally recognized as the face of the NBA, and no true big man has held that unofficial title since the days of Shaquille O’Neal. Evan Dammarell, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Oct. 2025 But an unofficial online fatality list hosted on the site BASEaddict records just 527 total BASE jumping deaths around the world in the past 44 years. Owen Clarke, Outside, 13 Oct. 2025 So, that stands as an unofficial record despite the incredible feat. Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 12 Oct. 2025 Putney is a sort of unofficial artist colony, and the annual craft tour shouldn’t be missed. Megan Margulies, Travel + Leisure, 11 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 22 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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