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 administration is also sanctioning Díaz-Canel’s wife and Cuba’s unofficial first lady, Lis Cuesta Peraza, and Díaz-Canel’s stepson, Manuel Anido Cuesta, as well as Castro Espín’s son, Raúl Alejandro Castro Calis. —Nora Gámez Torres, Miami Herald, 4 June 2026

Early, unofficial results showed OC Third District Supervisor Don Wagner poised to advance to the runoff for secretary of state, along with incumbent Shirley Weber. —Kaitlyn Schallhorn, Oc Register, 3 June 2026

Republican Steve Hilton and Democrat Xavier Becerra looked poised to advance to the November general election, according to unofficial ballot returns. —Lia Russell, Sacbee.com, 3 June 2026

The results remain unofficial and are expected to change as additional ballots are counted. —Teresa Liu, Daily News, 3 June 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