# unrecognized

/ənˈɹɛkəɡˌnaɪzd/ (US) · CEFR B2 · Adjective

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/unrecognized
Updated: 2026-05-20

## Definition

not known by anyone or not officially accepted as being true. You use this when someone or something has not received the attention or official status they deserve.

For teachers: not acknowledged, identified, or officially accepted. Often used to describe a lack of formal recognition or a failure to identify a person or entity.

## Examples

- The young artist's work remains unrecognized by the public.
- Despite her years of service, she felt unrecognized by her colleagues until the company finally gave her a promotion.
- The unrecognized genius of the early twentieth century struggled to find a publisher willing to take a chance on his unconventional style.

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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.