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Synonyms

unofficial

British  
/ ˌʌnəˈfɪʃəl /

adjective

  1. not official or formal

    an unofficial engagement

  2. not confirmed officially

    an unofficial report

  3. (of a strike) not approved by the strikers' trade union

  4. (of a medicinal drug) not listed in a pharmacopoeia

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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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.

See Examples For:

BTS’s lawsuit angered some devotees, who say unofficial merch is an essential part of their fandom.

From The Wall Street Journal Aug. 11, 2026

There is one final bit of irony: Cornell’s longtime unofficial mascot is Touchdown the Big Red Bear, a tradition dating to 1915, when the football team once adopted a live black bear.

From Salon Aug. 8, 2026

After the mayoral primary, Robb transitioned to a role as an unpaid, unofficial advisor to the mayor, her office said.

From Los Angeles Times Aug. 2, 2026

Singer Callum Beattie's rendition of Baccara's Yes Sir, I Can Boogie – the 1970s disco tune recently adopted as Scotland's unofficial anthem - had the Scottish athletes dancing in their seats.

From BBC Jul. 23, 2026

The Tunisia Grand Prix felt like an unofficial debut for me.

From "Proud" by Ibtihaj Muhammad

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