unwritten

adjective

un·​writ·​ten ˌən-ˈri-tᵊn 

1

: not expressed in writing : oral, traditional

an unwritten rule

2

: containing no writing : blank

Synonyms of unwritten

• oral
• verbal
• spoken

Examples of unwritten in a Sentence

They had an unwritten agreement.

an unwritten contract may not be enforceable

Recent Examples on the Web

These absences give Prikryl room to imagine what Shakespeare leaves unwritten. — Langdon Hammer, New Yorker, 2 Nov. 2026

And the Joe’s devotion to its customers won’t wane, Sawitz said, adding that the restaurant will never turn away anybody who shows up at the back door desperate for something to eat, a longtime unwritten rule. — Connie Ogle, Miami Herald, 30 Oct. 2026

Parts two and three would be combined into a single book, titled A Court of Forgotten Melody and released in January 2027, with the fourth and final part (as yet unwritten when Maas appeared on CHD) to be released at some future date. — Kathryn Vanarendonk, Vulture, 28 Oct. 2026

These changes to the unwritten rules at the holy site aren’t going unnoticed in the broader Muslim world, especially in neighboring Jordan. — Ilan Ben Zion, Christian Science Monitor, 14 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing unwritten

• unwritten constitution
• unwritten law
• unwritten/unspoken rule

Rhymes for unwritten

• handwritten
• honiton
• rewritten
• typewritten
• bitten
• briton
• chiton
• gittin
• kitten
• mitten
• smitten
• whitten

Kids Definition

unwritten

adjective

un·​writ·​ten ˌən-ˈrit-ᵊn 

ˈən-

1

: not put in writing : oral, traditional

an unwritten law

2

: containing no writing : blank

unwritten pages