# undocumented

/ənˈdɑkjəmɛnɪd/ (US) · /ʌndˈɒkjuːməntɪd/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/undocumented
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. without legal papers

adjective · CEFR B2

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

For teachers: lacking the required legal documents or official authorization for residence or employment in a country.

- The charity provides medical care to undocumented workers who are afraid to go to the hospital.
- Legislators are currently debating a new pathway to citizenship for undocumented residents who have lived in the country for over a decade.

### 2. without written records

adjective · CEFR C1 · Academic · Technical

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

For teachers: lacking written evidence, instructions, or supporting reference material.

- The old computer program had many undocumented features that the new staff didn't know how to use.
- The historian struggled to verify the claims because most of the village's traditions remained undocumented for centuries.

### 3. an undocumented person

noun · CEFR C1 · Informal

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

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

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

## Examples

- The charity provides medical care for undocumented families.
- Many undocumented workers contribute to the local economy despite lacking formal work permits or residency papers.
- While the historian found plenty of official records, the daily lives of the common people remained largely undocumented, leaving a significant gap in the narrative of the era.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.