# unpublished

/ənˈpəbɫɪʃt/ (US) · /ʌnpˈʌblɪʃt/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Adjective

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/unpublished
Updated: 2026-05-06

## Definition

not printed or shared with the public yet. You use this to describe books, music, or research that is still private.

For teachers: not yet issued in print or made available for public sale or distribution. Often refers to manuscripts, private letters, or data that remain in the author's possession.

## Examples

- The author has many unpublished stories in her desk.
- The historian discovered a collection of unpublished letters that revealed new details about the war.
- While the scientist's main findings were widely cited, the raw data remained unpublished due to privacy concerns regarding the participants' identities.

## Usage notes

- Typically used attributively before a noun or predicatively after a linking verb like 'remain'.

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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.