# unofficial

/ˌənəˈfɪʃəɫ/ (US) · /ʌnəfˈɪʃəl/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/unofficial
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. not formal or authorized

adjective · CEFR B2

not confirmed or approved by an organization, government, or person in charge.

For teachers: lacking formal sanction, confirmation, or authorization from a governing body or official source.

- The unofficial results of the election were shared on social media before the final count.
- Although the deal was common knowledge among the staff, it remained unofficial until the board of directors signed the final contract.

### 2. acting without authority

adjective · CEFR B2

doing something without having the legal right or power to do it.

For teachers: acting without the requisite legal or institutional authority; often used to describe roles or actions taken outside of formal structures.

- He acted as an unofficial advisor to the president for many years.
- The committee was criticized for its unofficial investigation, which many felt overstepped its legal boundaries and lacked transparency.

### 3. not in a pharmacopeia

adjective · CEFR C2 · Technical

describes a medicine or chemical that is not listed in an official medical book.

For teachers: referring to a medicinal substance or preparation not listed in a national or international pharmacopeia.

- The doctor warned that the unofficial remedy had not been tested for safety.
- The laboratory identified several unofficial compounds in the herbal supplement that were not disclosed on the product label.

Usage: Usually placed before the noun it modifies.

## Examples

- The unofficial results show that she won the election.
- Although the company hasn't made an announcement, the unofficial word is that the office will close next month.
- The report remains unofficial until the board of directors signs the final document, though its findings have already been leaked to the press and discussed by the public.

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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.