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 establishment of a local team and official channels has therefore laid the foundation of the business, consolidating demand that was previously dispersed across unofficial channels into a direct relationship with the brand. — Advertorial, Footwear News, 19 Sep. 2026

So does anyone who has become the unofficial technical support department for friends and family. — New Atlas, 18 Sep. 2026

She’s never spoken about Diana in post-1997 interviews—in contrast with her younger brother, Charles Spencer, who became the unofficial representative of the Spencer siblings following the delivery of his powerful eulogy at Diana’s funeral. — Bailey Bujnosek, InStyle, 17 Sep. 2026

An unofficial visit on campus a few months earlier had really resonated with them. — Los Angeles Times, 17 Sep. 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