unspoken

adjective

un·​spo·​ken ˌən-ˈspō-kən 

: not spoken : expressed or understood without being directly stated

an unspoken agreement/assumption

an unspoken rule

Phrases

unspoken to

: not spoken to

… she had sat the whole evening through in the same chair without occupation, not speaking, and unspoken to.

—Anthony Trollope

Synonyms

• implicit
• implied
• tacit
• unexpressed
• unvoiced
• wordless

Examples of unspoken in a Sentence

an unspoken promise to remain faithful to one another

Recent Examples on the Web

Laying Off Entire Office Of Infectious Disease And HIV/AIDS Policy Currently, the unspoken new target for DEI is effectively zero. —Paul Klein, Forbes.com, 29 Mar. 2025

This history is the governing party’s ultimate taboo, its unspoken original sin. —Ian Johnson, The Atlantic, 27 Mar. 2025

Dressing To Impress Like the fanciful hats at the Kentucky Derby, there’s an unspoken dress code for patrons attending the tournament. —Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 25 Mar. 2025

The standouts get scooped up by teams in need, with an unspoken rule that the last-place teams get first dibs at any especially talented newcomers. —Jason Mastrodonato, Mercury News, 24 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for unspoken

• awoken
• betoken
• heartbroken
• outspoken
• unbroken
• broken
• oaken
• spoken
• token
• woken