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

Because of the lax law, Missouri had become a safe harbor for unlicensed facilities, some which had been investigated or shut down in other states. —Judy L. Thomas, Kansas City Star, 10 Sep. 2025

The case against an unlicensed DoorDash delivery driver charged in connection with a deadly crash that killed two people riding a ATV can proceed to trial, a Milwaukee court commissioner ruled. —Chris Ramirez, jsonline.com, 9 Sep. 2025

And the Department of Justice might conduct surveillance of unlicensed companies that may be involved in trafficking. —Christine Ro, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025

He was accused of operating an unlicensed hog farm on his property and disposing hog manure in nearby lagoons. —Vivian Jones, Nashville Tennessean, 5 Sep. 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)