of unknown origin
idiom
—used to say that the source or cause of something is not known
a disease of unknown origin
Examples of of unknown origin in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
In the early hours of Jan. 2, two weeks before the fires in Los Angeles broke out, an inferno of unknown origin tore through Kantamanto Market, West Africa’s largest secondhand clothing marketplace.
—
Jasmin Malik Chua, Sourcing Journal, 3 Sep. 2019
First up is the Bride (Game of Thrones vet Indira Varma), a walking corpse of unknown origin.
—Hayden Mears, TVLine, 5 Dec. 2024
The vintage lemon tree tiles are of unknown origin, though Salley selected the Slim Citrus print by The Dybdahl Co. to accompany them.
—Linne Halpern, Architectural Digest, 12 Dec. 2024
Goldberg's words come over a year after The View began an unrelenting battle with gaseous entities, following a horrific water spillage (and mysterious fart noise of unknown origin) that plagued the Hot Topics table in January 2023.
—EW.com, 5 Nov. 2024
Satellite photos show a series of fires of unknown origin in Russia's Black Sea waters near a Ukrainian island, according to NASA's Fire Information for Resource Management (FIRM).
—David Faris, Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2024
Three of the men are citizens of Colombia, a fourth is from Mexico and the fifth is of unknown origin, according to the Oakland County Prosecutor’s Office.
—Bill Laytner, Detroit Free Press, 6 Aug. 2024
Genetic testing, however, led to a faster diagnosis for infants with diseases of unknown origin, with a decrease in the cost of care at nearly $15,000 per infant.
—Jodie Gillon, Hartford Courant, 19 July 2024
With both sides on high alert, a cyberattack of unknown origin is launched against Russian early warning systems, simulating an incoming air attack by NATO against air and naval bases in Kaliningrad.
—Ernest J. Moniz, Foreign Affairs, 6 Aug. 2019
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.
Jasmin Malik Chua, Sourcing Journal, 3 Sep. 2019
First up is the Bride (Game of Thrones vet Indira Varma), a walking corpse of unknown origin.
—Hayden Mears, TVLine, 5 Dec. 2024
The vintage lemon tree tiles are of unknown origin, though Salley selected the Slim Citrus print by The Dybdahl Co. to accompany them.
—Linne Halpern, Architectural Digest, 12 Dec. 2024
Goldberg's words come over a year after The View began an unrelenting battle with gaseous entities, following a horrific water spillage (and mysterious fart noise of unknown origin) that plagued the Hot Topics table in January 2023.
—EW.com, 5 Nov. 2024
Satellite photos show a series of fires of unknown origin in Russia's Black Sea waters near a Ukrainian island, according to NASA's Fire Information for Resource Management (FIRM).
—David Faris, Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2024
Three of the men are citizens of Colombia, a fourth is from Mexico and the fifth is of unknown origin, according to the Oakland County Prosecutor’s Office.
—Bill Laytner, Detroit Free Press, 6 Aug. 2024
Genetic testing, however, led to a faster diagnosis for infants with diseases of unknown origin, with a decrease in the cost of care at nearly $15,000 per infant.
—Jodie Gillon, Hartford Courant, 19 July 2024
With both sides on high alert, a cyberattack of unknown origin is launched against Russian early warning systems, simulating an incoming air attack by NATO against air and naval bases in Kaliningrad.
—Ernest J. Moniz, Foreign Affairs, 6 Aug. 2019
Dictionary Entries Near of unknown origin
Cite this Entry
“Of unknown origin.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/of%20unknown%20origin. Accessed 22 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share