English Reference
adjective · noun

undocumented

adj. · n.
US /ənˈdɑkjəmɛnɪd/ UK /ʌndˈɒkjuːməntɪd/ un·doc·u·ment·ed

  1. 01 B2 Upper Intermediate

    adj.living or working in a country without the official legal documents required by the government.

    adj.lacking the required legal documents or official authorization for residence or employment in a country.

    Simple

    The charity provides medical care to undocumented workers who are afraid to go to the hospital.

    In context

    Legislators are currently debating a new pathway to citizenship for undocumented residents who have lived in the country for over a decade.

  2. 02 C1 Advanced AcademicTechnical

    adj.not recorded in writing or not having instructions on how to use it.

    adj.lacking written evidence, instructions, or supporting reference material.

    Simple

    The old computer program had many undocumented features that the new staff didn't know how to use.

    In context

    The historian struggled to verify the claims because most of the village's traditions remained undocumented for centuries.

    unrecordedunwritten
  3. 03 C1 Advanced Informal

    n.a person who does not have the legal papers to live in a country.

    n.a person residing in a country without official legal documentation; used as a collective or individual noun.

    Simple

    The new law aims to protect the rights of the undocumented in the city.

    In context

    Advocacy groups argue that the undocumented contribute significantly to the local economy through labor and consumption.

    Usage

    Often used with the definite article 'the' to refer to a group of people.

Most are now being forced to return as these two neighbours crack down on undocumented migrants.

BBC News· 1 Sept 2026

How else would anyone be able to know roughly how many undocumented people are in the United States?" he says.

Phys.org· 11 Aug 2026

From un- + documented.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Frequent
Updated