# unsigned

/ənˈsaɪnd/ (US) · /ʌnsˈaɪnd/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Adjective

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/unsigned
Updated: 2026-05-08

## Definition

describing a document or piece of work that does not have a signature or a name on it.

For teachers: lacking a signature or formal identification of authorship. In computing, refers to software or code that has not been verified by a digital certificate.

## Examples

- The bank rejected the unsigned check.
- The operating system warned the user that installing unsigned drivers could lead to security vulnerabilities.
- Historians debated the origin of the unsigned manuscript, searching for stylistic clues that might link the text to a known 18th-century philosopher.

## Usage notes

- Often used attributively before a noun; in technical contexts, it can also describe a numeric variable that cannot represent negative values.

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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.