Definition of 'unofficial'

Word Frequency

unofficial

(ʌnəfɪʃəl )

adjective [usually ADJECTIVE noun]

An unofficial action or statement is not organized or approved by a person or group in authority.

Staff voted to continue an unofficial strike.

Official reports put the death toll at under one hundred.

Synonyms: unauthorized, informal, unsanctioned, casual More Synonyms of unofficial

unofficially adverb [usually ADVERB with verb]

Some workers are legally employed, but the majority work unofficially.

More Synonyms of unofficial

Video: pronunciation of 'unofficial'

Word Frequency

unofficial in British

(ˌʌnəˈfɪʃəl )

adjective

not official or formal

an unofficial engagement

not confirmed officially

an unofficial report

(of a strike) not approved by the strikers' trade union

(of a medicinal drug) not listed in a pharmacopoeia

Derived forms

unofficially (ˌunofˈficially)

adverb

Example sentences containing 'unofficial'

These examples have been automatically selected and may contain sensitive content. Read more…

Workers walked out in protest last month, triggering a wave of unofficial sympathy strikes. The Sun (2009)Up to 200 prison staff have staged an unofficial strike. Times, Sunday Times (2009)Most national strikes are official, whereas most local strikes are unofficial. Chambers, Ian Business Studies Basic Facts (1990)Sometimes union members take unofficial strike action without a ballot, for which they can technically be dismissed. Times, Sunday Times (2008)He has acted as one of the campaign's unofficial advisers, according to an insider. Times, Sunday Times (2013)If it succeeds it could become the unofficial capital of the Middle East. Times, Sunday Times (2010)It was also followed by unofficial strikes by workers at Grangemouth oil refinery who complained that jobs had been awarded to European counterparts. Times, Sunday Times (2012)About 2,000 workers at 17 sites across the country have been taking part in unofficial strikes protesting at the use of foreign labour. Times, Sunday Times (2009)The move follows a series of unofficial strikes throughout the country, which has resulted in a backlog of up to 30 million items. Times, Sunday Times (2009)