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 state has grown increasingly reliant on unlicensed teachers because schools are struggling to retain experienced educators. —Silas Allen, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 6 Jan. 2025

But without intervention, the rise of unlicensed vending can ruin this vital sector. —John Murn, New York Daily News, 4 Jan. 2025

New York state, which had a rocky roll out plagued with a wild west of unlicensed pot shops, is gaining traction and surpassed $1 billion in legal cannabis sales just two years after its launch. —Will Yakowicz, Forbes, 3 Jan. 2025

These models are trained on vast, unlicensed datasets scraped from internet and music platforms. —Virginie Berger, Forbes, 30 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1577, in the meaning defined above

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)