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. )
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.
Hasbro confirmed "identified unauthorized access to the Company's network" in a filing made to the US government.
From BBC • Apr. 1, 2026
Copyright Office has called for new federal legislation to protect content creators from unauthorized, AI-generated copies of their work, but no progress has been made yet.
From Salon • Mar. 23, 2026
The agency’s concern was that while these tools are marketed as flawless replacements for human experts, they are often prone to making costly, unauthorized purchases.
From MarketWatch • Mar. 19, 2026
So there were unauthorized people in the U.S.
From Slate • Mar. 16, 2026
It issued thirty fines for carrying Kodaks without a permit, thirty-seven for taking unauthorized photographs.
From "The Devil in the White City" by Erik Larson
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.
