unspoken
Americanadjective
-
implied or understood without being spoken or uttered.
-
not addressed (usually followed byto ).
-
not talking; silent.
adjective
-
understood without needing to be spoken; tacit
-
not uttered aloud
Etymology
Origin of unspoken
First recorded in 1325–75, unspoken is from the Middle English word unspokyn. See un- 1, spoken
Explanation
Anything you don't say aloud is unspoken, especially if its meaning is understood anyway. Even though it's not officially allowed, there may be an unspoken understanding that high school seniors will skip school on a certain spring day. The adjective unspoken refers to thoughts or feelings that are implied even though they aren't voiced out loud. You and your best friends may have an unspoken assumption that you'll sit at the same cafeteria table every day at lunch. And when your parents are in bad moods, you and your sister might have an unspoken agreement that you'll take the dog for a walk together to give them some time to cool off.
Vocabulary lists containing unspoken
Power Suffix: -en
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The Flicker
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Moko Magic: Carnival Chaos
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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.
But throughout the GB squad - including captain Kate Richardson-Walsh and head coach Danny Kerry - there was an unspoken feeling that this was their time.
From BBC ● Aug. 18, 2026
Even when intergalactic forces take pains to make the Lantern Corps’ selection process fair, Earth’s unspoken dictates about worthiness make that impossible.
From Salon ● Aug. 14, 2026
“There are a lot of unspoken rules around professionalism that older generations carry from pre-COVID,” Boccardo said.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 21, 2026
He was a former prosecutor who entered Parliament late in life, the unspoken pitch being that he would bring some dull normality back to British politics.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 4, 2026
But still, there was this unspoken rule that he never did it if there were guests in the house.”
From "Anthem of a Reluctant Prophet" by Joanne Proulx
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.
