unauthorized

adjective

un·​au·​tho·​rized ˌən-ˈȯ-thə-ˌrīzd How to pronounce unauthorized (audio)
Synonyms of unauthorizednext
: not authorized : without authority or permission
an unauthorized biography
unauthorized communications
was unauthorized to act for her husband

Examples of unauthorized in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Still, stories of artists finding unauthorized clones have become all too common. — Los Angeles Times, 27 Aug. 2026 Around 1,200 agents overall exchanged more than 70,000 messages and files through an unauthorized message board, coordinating ways to game a hacking evaluation. — Beatrice Nolan, Fortune, 27 Aug. 2026 Anthropic disclosed three incidents during third-party evaluations in which its models accessed the internet and gained unauthorized access to external organizations. — Alex Heath, Time, 26 Aug. 2026 Marines said the area around the fire is a no-fly zone and requested that unauthorized drones be kept away. — Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 26 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for unauthorized

Word History

First Known Use

1597, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of unauthorized was in 1597

Rhymes for unauthorized

See All Rhymes for unauthorized

Browse Nearby Words

unauthoritative
unauthorized
unautomated
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Unauthorized.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unauthorized. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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