unwritten

American  

[uhn-rit-n] / ʌnˈrɪt n /

adjective

1. not actually formulated or expressed; customary; traditional.

   Synonyms:

   inferred, tacit, understood, implicit

2. not written; not put in writing or print; oral.

   an unwritten agreement.

3. containing no writing; blank.

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unwritten British  

/ ʌnˈrɪtən /

adjective

1. not printed or in writing

2. effective only through custom; traditional

3. without writing upon it

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Etymology

Origin of unwritten

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English unwriten; un- ¹, written

Example Sentences

Finding what’s unwritten, tricks of the trade, and the view of the constantly changing competitive landscape will create new winners.

From The Wall Street Journal

It might also help to ask your colleagues if there is an unwritten dress code.

From MarketWatch

Quietly, consistently, he advocated for me behind closed doors, recommending me for opportunities I didn’t know I was even in the running for and helping me navigate the unwritten rules of an elite academic institution.

From The Wall Street Journal

Another agent described the situation as "an unwritten rule" across T20 leagues with Indian investment.

From BBC

For a long time, experts spoke of "Arctic exceptionalism": the concept that the region had its own set of unwritten rules of cooperation, a zone of peace immune to geopolitical rivalries.

From Barron's

Related Words

• accepted
• tacit
• verbal