unspoken

adjective

un·​spo·​ken ˌən-ˈspō-kən 

: not spoken : expressed or understood without being directly stated

an unspoken agreement/assumption

an unspoken rule

Phrases

unspoken to

: not spoken to

… she had sat the whole evening through in the same chair without occupation, not speaking, and unspoken to.

—Anthony Trollope

Synonyms

• tacit
• implied
• implicit

Examples of unspoken in a Sentence

an unspoken promise to remain faithful to one another

Recent Examples on the Web

From hearing the unspoken truth in your customers’ stories. —Dev Patnaik, Forbes.com, 30 June 2025

It is also tied with the unspoken etiquette rule of not upstaging the bride. —Ashlyn Robinette, People.com, 30 June 2025

What Trump, Biden have done The first Trump administration identified rare earths as critical but notably exempted them from 2018 China tariffs, perhaps an unspoken acknowledgment of U.S. dependence. —Dewardric L. McNeal, CNBC, 29 June 2025

There’s often an unspoken (and deeply misogynistic) rule on country music radio: Never play two female artists back to back. —Vulture Editors, Vulture, 27 June 2025

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for unspoken

• awoken
• betoken
• heartbroken
• outspoken
• unbroken
• broken
• oaken
• spoken
• token
• woken