unwritten
Americanadjective
-
not actually formulated or expressed; customary; traditional.
- Synonyms:
- inferred, tacit, understood, implicit
-
not written; not put in writing or print; oral.
an unwritten agreement.
-
containing no writing; blank.
adjective
-
not printed or in writing
-
effective only through custom; traditional
-
without writing upon it
Etymology
Origin of unwritten
First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English unwriten; see un- 1, written
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.
The problem with unwritten rules, of course, is that some people have already been taught them.
From Salon ● Sep. 23, 2026
Last month, Daniel Mummolo, an attorney with the Department of Justice, pushed back during a hearing on the motion, telling Frimpong that a warrantless arrest policy “does not exist either in written or unwritten form.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 16, 2026
When it comes to etiquette in tennis, there are a fair few unwritten rules.
From BBC ● Sep. 4, 2026
They are the unwritten rules that delineate who is trying to look the part, who wants to stand out and how everyone balances professionalism with self-expression.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 6, 2026
It was unwritten law in China, so my informant told me, that when one man saved another’s life he became responsible for that life to the end of its existence.
From "Travels with Charley in Search of America" by John Steinbeck
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
