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; 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.
But if the fighting in Iran stretches into a second month, heightening financial pressure on U.S. workers, the written and unwritten rules about office attendance could get put to the test.
From MarketWatch • Apr. 1, 2026
“Smoglandia” is a great California yarn, and one with the ending still unwritten.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 26, 2026
The High North has long been shielded by the concept of "Arctic exceptionalism" -- the notion that the region had its own set of unwritten rules of cooperation which were immune to geopolitical rivalries.
From Barron's • Mar. 13, 2026
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 • Mar. 1, 2026
Thus in the United Kingdom we have an unwritten constitution.
From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton
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.
