unauthorized
Americanadjective
-
lacking permission; unsanctioned.
unauthorized access.
-
lacking proper immigration or working papers: an unauthorized immigrant.
an unauthorized worker;
an unauthorized immigrant.
adjective
Sensitive Note
See illegal alien.
Etymology
Origin of unauthorized
First recorded in 1595–1600; un- 1 ( def. ) + authorized ( def. )
Explanation
If something is officially not approved, it's unauthorized. An unauthorized biography is written without the consent or cooperation of its subject. If a person lacks the authority to do something, you can describe them as unauthorized: "Sorry, I'm unauthorized to let you into the secret clubhouse." Otherwise, this adjective means "not permitted." Many unauthorized things are also illegal, like an online company's unauthorized use of personal information. To authorize is to give approval.
Vocabulary lists containing unauthorized
No Talking
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Novel Study: Their Eyes Were Watching God, Chapters 7–15
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Onyeka and the Academy of the Sun
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Anthropic on Monday updated its web page warning investors about unauthorized stock sales, mentioning a handful of firms it said were not authorized to buy or sell its shares.
From MarketWatch • May 13, 2026
On Wednesday the firm said Canvas was “fully operational and we are not seeing any ongoing unauthorized activity” after the attacks.
From Los Angeles Times • May 7, 2026
Earlier this week, Anthropic said it was investigating unauthorized access to Mythos after Bloomberg News reported that a small group of users in a private online forum had gained access.
From Barron's • Apr. 30, 2026
In China, some star actors recently denounced the unauthorized use of their likenesses in AI-generated videos.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 26, 2026
“One of the Permanent Bureaus of the Internal Administration. Looks out after false registries, unauthorized travel, job-substitutions, forgeries, that sort of thing—trash. That’s what mm/means in gutter-Orgota, trash, it’s a nickname.”
From "The Left Hand of Darkness" by Ursula K. Le Guin
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
