unclassified

adjective

un·​clas·​si·​fied ˌən-ˈkla-sə-ˌfīd How to pronounce unclassified (audio)
Synonyms of unclassifiednext
1
: not subject to a security classification
unclassified information
2
: not placed or belonging in a class

Examples of unclassified 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.
In late 2016, for example, the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology issued the first thorough, unclassified warning about the potential national security risks posed by biotechnology. — Elizabeth Sherwood-Randall, Foreign Affairs, 18 Aug. 2026 When the Berkeley Lab opened its supercomputing center inside the building, the site accommodated an IBM device that at the time was the world’s most powerful unclassified supercomputer. — George Avalos, Mercury News, 14 Aug. 2026 Federal prosecutors can prepare an unclassified summary of any classified information being used as evidence in the case. — Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 31 July 2026 An ongoing military exercise happening hundreds of miles above Earth has—for the first time in an unclassified setting—demonstrated how future satellites might evade and pursue one another in a future conflict. — Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 30 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for unclassified

Word History

First Known Use

1815, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of unclassified was in 1815

Rhymes for unclassified

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Browse Nearby Words

unclassifiable
unclassified
uncle
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Cite this Entry

“Unclassified.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unclassified. Accessed 30 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

unclassified

adjective
un·​clas·​si·​fied ˌən-ˈklas-ə-ˌfīd How to pronounce unclassified (audio)
: not classified
especially : not requiring special treatment for purposes of security
unclassified documents

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