unauthorized

[uhn-aw-thuh-rahyzd]

adjective

1. lacking permission; unsanctioned.

   unauthorized access.

2. lacking proper immigration or working papers: an unauthorized immigrant.

   an unauthorized worker;

   an unauthorized immigrant.

unauthorized

/ ʌnˈɔːθəˌraɪzd /

adjective

1. not having official permission

Sensitive Note

See illegal alien.

Word History and Origins

Origin of unauthorized¹

First recorded in 1595–1600; un- ¹ ( def. ) + authorized ( def. )

Example Sentences

That’s the crux of the dispute: Was it a few innocent photos or an unauthorized production?

From Los Angeles Times

The lawsuit, they emphasized, seeks not only to secure justice for Ladera — but to send a strong message that the unauthorized dissemination of intimate content will face serious legal consequences.

From Los Angeles Times

The series made headlines even before its premiere when the estate of Michael Crichton, creator of “ER,” sued Warner Bros., producer of “The Pitt,” arguing it was an unauthorized reboot of the NBC medical drama.

From Los Angeles Times

They detained and handcuffed the alleged unauthorized immigrant.

From Los Angeles Times

California, Texas, New York and Florida — a mix of red and blue states — are among those with the highest number of unauthorized immigrants, according to the Migration Policy Institute, a nonpartisan Washington-based think tank.

From Salon

Related Words

• illegal 
• illegitimate 
• pirated www.thesaurus.com
• unapproved 
• unconstitutional 
• unjustified 
• unlawful 
• unofficial 
• unwarranted 
• wrongful