unmarked

American  

[uhn-mahrkt] / ʌnˈmɑrkt /

adjective

1. not marked.

2. Linguistics.

   1. characterized by the absence of a distinctive phonological feature, as (p), which, in contrast to (b), lacks the distinctive feature of voicing.

   2. characterized by the absence of a grammatical marker, as the singular in English in contrast to the plural, which is typically marked by an -s ending.

   3. neutral with regard to an element of meaning specified by a semantically related item.

   4. occurring more typically than an alternative form.

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unmarked British  

/ ʌnˈmɑːkt /

adjective

1. not carrying a mark or marks

   an unmarked police car

2. not noticed or observed

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Etymology

Origin of unmarked

late Middle English word dating back to 1400–50; see origin at un- ¹, marked

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

unmarked

“We think there’s an ICE agent,” someone told her, pointing toward an unmarked car skulking in the parking lot.

From Slate ● Jul. 27, 2026

Salgado Araujo’s family said he might not have known the people in unmarked vehicles were ICE officers and instead thought they were going to steal his tools.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 10, 2026

It’s not uncommon for ICE agents to use unmarked cars and wear masks as they attempt arrests, and advocacy groups say the tactic means people often aren’t aware that it’s federal agents detaining them.

From Salon ● Jul. 9, 2026

To measure its value, the state ran a controlled experiment and determined whether roads were striped or left unmarked by flipping a coin.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 4, 2026

Your fists go stiff and you stagger up the cement stairs to your door in the unmarked halls to your cement room and you lie down.

From "Everything Sad Is Untrue" by Daniel Nayeri