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.
Hugging Face discovered the break-in early last week, saying there had been unauthorized access to internal data sets and company credentials.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 22, 2026
A spokesperson for NBC confirmed the “security incident” in a statement shared with The Times, noting that an individual entered “an unauthorized area” and “approached” co-anchor Craig Melvin, who notified security.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 16, 2026
The OEC would advise the justices on recusal issues, gifts and financial disclosures, and unauthorized disclosure of official court documents, like the Dobbs leak.
From Slate ● Jul. 15, 2026
As Thompson started mulling video cover letters, she signed a newly “Human Consent Registry” to try guarding her name, image and likeness against unauthorized AI use.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 15, 2026
“This can’t be the first time an unauthorized person misspent money.”
From "Schooled" by Gordon Korman
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.
