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

Mostly the products of Budapest’s investment in a conservative intellectual infrastructure, part of the unofficial delegation consisted of six students from the Matthias Corvinus Institute. —Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 3 Sep. 2025

As the unofficial ambassador of football, Manning is often diplomatic. —Troy Renck, Denver Post, 1 Sep. 2025

Happy unofficial start of fall, and the beginning of several new TV obsessions that will premiere this month. —Jessica Radloff, Glamour, 1 Sep. 2025

The unofficial symbols of Black Mountain, rockers of all shapes and sizes are sprinkled throughout town. —Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 1 Sep. 2025

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