: not official: such as
a
: not formally chosen by an official decision or vote
The song is the college's unofficial anthem.
She was the group's unofficial leader.
b
: not done or made in a formal way by someone in a position of authority
Unofficial estimates of the number of people killed in the earthquake range from 3,000 to 5,000.
I am including an unofficial translation of the speech.
c
: not having the authority to make a statement, decision, etc.
According to unofficial sources, the decision will be appealed.
d
: not done in a public and formal way as part of someone's job
The mayor paid an unofficial visit to the hospital.
Cite this Entry
“Unofficial.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/unofficial. Accessed 18 Jun. 2026.
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