unproven

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adjective un·prov·en \ ˌən-ˈprü-vən , British also -ˈprō- \

Definition of unproven

:not tested and shown to be good, true, or useful :not proven

an unproven allegation/theory

unproven benefits

unproven technology

See unproven defined for English-language learners

Recent Examples of unproven from the Web

Though approved by the Florida Supreme Court, etomidate has been criticized by some as being unproven in an execution.

— jason dearen, The Seattle Times, "Florida uses new drug to execute man convicted of 2 murders," 25 Aug. 2017
While the state's high court has approved the use of etomidate, some experts have criticized the drug as being unproven.

— jason dearen, chicagotribune.com, "Supreme Court won't halt Florida man's execution for killings called racially motivated," 24 Aug. 2017
Hart, Indiana’s new running backs coach, has spent the past several months sifting through a deep group of talented but unproven backs, trying to determine his primary option (or options) for the fall.

— zach osterman, The Courier-Journal, "Consistency name of the game as Hoosiers search for RB to step up," 16 Aug. 2017
She, too, grappled with the promises of alluring but unproven medical research and the dizzying array of armchair diagnoses on the internet.

— dan bilefsky, New York Times, "For Parents of Children Like Charlie Gard, Learning to ‘Redefine Hope’," 7 Aug. 2017
More than thirty years after Kelling and Wilson’s article, this unproven theory remains a dominant policing paradigm in urban areas.

— Longreads, "The War on Drugs Is a War on Women of Color," 3 Aug. 2017
This still-unproven theory is then used as the foundation of the conspiracy: that James Comey recounted Trump Jr.’s e-mails to the New York Times when attending an independent event in the newspaper’s building last month.

— tiana lowe, National Review, "Conspiracies Abound in Deep Pro-Trump Circles Desensitized to Outrage," 13 July 2017
The unspoken hope is that Valerian will be a hit along the lines of Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy, which came out of nowhere in 2014, an unproven commodity that stunned Hollywood by making $773 million.

— chris lee, MSNBC Newsweek, "Not a Marvel Movie: 'Valerian' Director on His Epic and Expensive Sci-Fi Adapted From a Graphic Novel," 5 July 2017
Because silibinin is still unproven, the CPCS presents the drug as one of several options, including using IV fluids alone.

— sarah zhang, The Atlantic, "The Aftermath of a Deadly Mushroom Bloom in California," 13 June 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'unproven.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of unproven

1563

Law Dictionary

unproven

adjective un·prov·en \ ˌən-ˈprü-vən \

legal Definition of unproven

:not proven

an unproven allegation

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