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 judge sounded more open to the argument that copyrighting a whole album shields every song on the record from unlicensed use, based on his reading of previous court rulings. —Sean Piccoli, Deadline, 6 Sep. 2024

Alcoholic Beverage and Cannabis Administration has issued 21 cease and desist orders and 75 warnings to unlicensed businesses, spokesperson Mary McNamara told Axios. —Cuneyt Dil, Axios, 4 Sep. 2024

The crackdown on unlicensed pot shops across New York follows the decriminalization of recreational marijuana for adults in 2021, which turned the five boroughs into a boom town for outlaw weed dispensaries. —Colin Mixson, New York Daily News, 9 Aug. 2024

Monetary fines and damages awards alone do not deter Big Tech from using unlicensed technology. —Chuck Hong, Fortune, 9 Aug. 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)