unseal

verb

un·​seal ˌən-ˈsēl How to pronounce unseal (audio)
unsealed; unsealing; unseals
Synonyms of unsealnext

transitive verb

: to break or remove the seal of : open

Examples of unseal in a Sentence

The court unsealed the documents in the Douglas trial today.
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.
He was then seen leaving a few hours later during a period when the Tepes were away, according to a probable cause affidavit unsealed in court and obtained by PEOPLE. Chris Spargo, PEOPLE, 28 Jan. 2026 But a search warrant in the case, unsealed during the hearing, identified Platt as an informant. Tony Saavedra, Oc Register, 26 Jan. 2026 An affidavit in support of the criminal complaint, unsealed Friday, included the names of five other people, but they were redacted. Mara H. Gottfried, Twin Cities, 23 Jan. 2026 In November, a grand jury indictment was unsealed charging him in the death of the witness. Minyvonne Burke, NBC news, 23 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for unseal

Word History

First Known Use

12th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of unseal was in the 12th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Unseal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unseal. Accessed 30 Jan. 2026.

Kids Definition

unseal

verb
un·​seal ˌən-ˈsē(ə)l How to pronounce unseal (audio)
ˈən-
: to break or remove the seal of

More from Merriam-Webster on unseal

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!