# unidentified

/ˌənaɪˈdɛntəˌfaɪd/ (US) · /ˌʌnaɪdˈɛntɪfˌaɪd/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Adjective

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/unidentified
Updated: 2026-05-03

## Definition

not recognized or known. You use this to describe something that has been seen but nobody knows exactly what it is or who it belongs to.

For teachers: not recognized or having no established identity. Often used in official, forensic, or scientific contexts to describe objects, persons, or substances whose origins remain unknown.

## Examples

- The police found an unidentified car parked in the driveway.
- A small, unidentified object was seen flying over the coast, prompting a brief investigation by the local authorities.
- The museum's basement contains several unidentified fragments of pottery that likely date back to the late Bronze Age, though their exact provenance remains a mystery to researchers.

## Usage notes

- Typically used as an attributive adjective before a noun.

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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.