unofficial

adjective

un·​of·​fi·​cial ˌən-ə-ˈfi-shəl 

 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

His unofficial time from home plate to the left field corner was 48 seconds, as timed by a reporter. —Chris Biderman, Sacbee.com, 26 May 2025

America of a Memorial Day weekend when the unofficial start of summer means school's out and play is in? —Arkansas Online, 26 May 2025

Memorial Day ushers in the unofficial start of summer and gives us a little extra time to kick back with a book. —Holly Corbett, Forbes.com, 26 May 2025

Memorial Day weekend marks the unofficial start of summer, which means more Americans are firing up their grills and filling their bellies with burgers and barbecue. —Peter Burke, FOXNews.com, 25 May 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1784, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for unofficial

• artificial
• beneficial
• cicatricial
• interstitial
• nonjudicial
• nonofficial
• prejudicial
• sacrificial
• superficial
• extrajudicial
• semiofficial
• initial

Medical Definition

unofficial

adjective

un·​of·​fi·​cial ˌən-ə-ˈfish-əl 

: not official

specifically : of, relating to, or being a drug not described in the United States Pharmacopeia and National Formulary compare nonofficial, official