unlicensed

adjective

un·​li·​censed ˌən-ˈlī-sᵊn(t)st 

: not licensed: such as

a

: not authorized or permitted by a license

unlicensed merchandise

an unlicensed firearm

the unlicensed reproduction of books

b

: operating without a license

unlicensed vendors

an unlicensed electrician

unlicensed brokers

unlicensed drivers

Examples of unlicensed in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The operation was conducted under Oklahoma’s 287(g) partnership with ICE to address public safety concerns tied to unlicensed and unauthorized drivers. —Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 19 Nov. 2025

With the evidence collected by Mesler and others, Zhang, Han, Zhou and Wang were charged in federal court between May and September of 2019 with operating an unlicensed money transmitting business. —Rob Kuznia, CNN Money, 18 Nov. 2025

In southwest Detroit, data shows a lack of available licensed child care seats, leaving some parents to turn to unlicensed care. —Beki San Martin, Freep.com, 15 Nov. 2025

However, Meta reportedly earns roughly $7 billion in revenue every year from potentially fraudulent ads, which can include ads for crypto scams, counterfeit medical products, and unlicensed casinos, another late-2024 document states. —PC Magazine, 8 Nov. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1577, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for unlicensed

• licenced
• licensed

Medical Definition

unlicensed

adjective

un·​li·​censed

variants or chiefly British unlicenced

-ˈlīs-ᵊn(t)st

: not licensed

especially, of a drug : not approved for use by the appropriate regulating authority (as the Food and Drug Administration in the United States)