English Meaning & Definitions
Not having the formal approval or authorization of an authority or organization.
- “The team held an unofficial meeting to discuss their concerns before the formal board session.”
- “There were unofficial reports that the company was planning a major restructuring.”
English Synonyms & Near Equivalents
English Antonyms & Opposites
Comprehensive Thesaurus Breakdown
Compare formal, informal, literary synonyms and register nuances for “unofficial”.
Derived from the prefix 'un-' (not) + 'official', which traces back to the Latin 'officialis' (of or belonging to a duty or office), from 'officium' (service, duty, or office). The term emerged in the 17th century to describe actions or information lacking the authorization of a formal body or government.
Think of 'un-' (not) + 'official' (the boss). If the boss didn't say it, it's unofficial.
Frequently Asked Questions About “unofficial”
1. What is the meaning of “unofficial” in English?
In English, unofficial (adjective) is defined as: “Not having the formal approval or authorization of an authority or organization.”.
2. How do you use “unofficial” in a sentence?
“The team held an unofficial meeting to discuss their concerns before the formal board session.”
3. What are English synonyms of “unofficial”?
4. What is the etymology and word origin of “unofficial”?
Derived from the prefix 'un-' (not) + 'official', which traces back to the Latin 'officialis' (of or belonging to a duty or office), from 'officium' (service, duty, or office). The term emerged in the 17th century to describe actions or information lacking the authorization of a formal body or government.
🇬🇧More English Words to English
View all English words →The base unit of time in the International System of Units (SI), equal to the duration of 9,192,631,770 periods of the radiation corresponding to the transition between the two hyperfine levels of the ground state of the caesium-133 atom.
A specific duration of time equal to one hour and forty-six minutes and twelve seconds.
The cardinal number equal to one thousand million (1,000,000,000), expressed in scientific notation as 10^9.
A specific duration of time equivalent to one hour and forty-six minutes.