unofficial

adjective

un·​of·​fi·​cial ˌən-ə-ˈfi-shəl How to pronounce unofficial (audio)
 also  -ō-
: not authorized or acknowledged by a government, group, class, or society : not official
unofficial results
an unofficial policy
unofficially adverb

Examples of unofficial in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Comments Paris Fashion Week heralds in the unofficial start of spring. Lane Nieset, Travel + Leisure, 26 Mar. 2025 At each stop, Sanders aims to protest the ways in which the Trump administration and Elon Musk’s unofficial DOGE department are threatening democracy and prioritizing profit for billionaires at the expense of everyday Americans. Abby Monteil, Them, 24 Mar. 2025 Kebabs are something of an unofficial national dish in Paris, ranking third among the country’s convenience food favorites—right behind pizza and burgers, according to the food trend firm Strateg’eat. Lindsey Tramuta, Bon Appétit, 20 Mar. 2025 While speaking with Fox Business’ Larry Kudlow last week, Musk said the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which the 53-year-old is the unofficial leader of, was tapped to hire 100 people who will expand and oversee nearly every government agency. Jonathan Limehouse, USA TODAY, 19 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for unofficial

Word History

First Known Use

1784, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of unofficial was in 1784

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Unofficial.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unofficial. Accessed 2 Apr. 2025.

Medical Definition

unofficial

adjective
un·​of·​fi·​cial ˌən-ə-ˈfish-əl How to pronounce unofficial (audio)
: not official
specifically : of, relating to, or being a drug not described in the United States Pharmacopeia and National Formulary compare nonofficial, official

More from Merriam-Webster on unofficial

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