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Synonyms

unaccounted-for

American  
[uhn-uh-koun-tid-fawr] / ˌʌn əˈkaʊn tɪdˌfɔr /

adjective

  1. not accounted for; not understood; unexplained.

    an explosion resulting from some unaccounted-for mechanical failure.


Etymology

Origin of unaccounted-for

1790–1800; formed on the verb phrase account for; see un- 1, -ed 2

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.

See Examples For:

Asked about the fate of the thousands of unaccounted-for canines, he acknowledged they had likely "already been eaten."

From Barron's Jun. 28, 2026

The authors also noted that other, unaccounted-for health or lifestyle factors may have influenced the results.

From Science Daily Oct. 27, 2025

But it later confirmed there was another unaccounted-for passenger on the flight.

From BBC Aug. 10, 2024

The key is to ask the right questions, the topmost being: where is Raymond Clark, the unaccounted-for Tsalal scientist who was involved with Annie K?

From Salon Feb. 5, 2024

Gies & Co. still had some unaccounted-for thousand-guilder bills, which they used to pay their estimated taxes for the coming years, so everything seems to be aboveboard.

From "The Diary of a Young Girl" by Anne Frank

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