unperson

American  

[uhn-pur-suhn] / ˈʌnˈpɜr sən /

noun

1. a public figure, especially in a totalitarian country, who, for political or ideological reasons, is not recognized or mentioned in government publications or records or in the news media.

2. a person accorded no recognition or consideration by another or by a specific group.

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unperson British  

/ ˈʌnpɜːsən /

noun

1. a person whose existence is officially denied or ignored

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Etymology

Origin of unperson

un- ¹ + person; introduced in George Orwell's novel 1984 (1949)

Example Sentences

In an especially disgraceful article, Anthony Tomassini, then the classical music critic for the New York Times, took the money quotes completely out of context and effectively declared Stockhausen an unperson.

From Salon • Sep. 11, 2021

As an artistic unperson he is banned even from buying paints.

From Economist • Sep. 15, 2016

It not only seeks to censor uncongenial speech but wishes to declare an uncongenial individual ineffable—in effect, to render him an unperson.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 4, 2016

The Central Committee expelled him from his 32-year membership in the Communist Party, an act that relegated him to the limbo status of an unperson.

From Time Magazine Archive

But Syme was not only dead, he was abolished, an unperson.

From "1984" by George Orwell