unofficial
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
not confirmed or approved by an organization, government, or person in charge.
lacking formal sanction, confirmation, or authorization from a governing body or official source.
Simple“The unofficial results of the election were shared on social media before the final count.”
In context“Although the deal was common knowledge among the staff, it remained unofficial until the board of directors signed the final contract.”
SynonymsAntonyms - 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
doing something without having the legal right or power to do it.
acting without the requisite legal or institutional authority; often used to describe roles or actions taken outside of formal structures.
Simple“He acted as an unofficial advisor to the president for many years.”
In context“The committee was criticized for its unofficial investigation, which many felt overstepped its legal boundaries and lacked transparency.”
SynonymsAntonyms - 03 C2 Proficiency
describes a medicine or chemical that is not listed in an official medical book.
referring to a medicinal substance or preparation not listed in a national or international pharmacopeia.
Simple“The doctor warned that the unofficial remedy had not been tested for safety.”
In context“The laboratory identified several unofficial compounds in the herbal supplement that were not disclosed on the product label.”
UsageUsually placed before the noun it modifies.
Synonymsnon pharmacopeialAntonyms
“They also embraced a friend of the family, James, as an unofficial son, and James’s children, Dylan and Maisie, came to view them as grandparents.”
“One of his poems is about a child in some unnamed village near the frontline, who becomes the unofficial mascot of the soldiers posted there.”
From un- + official.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.