unwritten

adjective

un·​writ·​ten ˌən-ˈri-tᵊn How to pronounce unwritten (audio)
1
: not expressed in writing : oral, traditional
an unwritten rule
2
: containing no writing : blank

Examples of unwritten in a Sentence

They had an unwritten agreement. an unwritten contract may not be enforceable
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.
The unwritten rule to only bet foreign horses in Breeders’ Cup turf races was three for three, with all the winners coming from Ireland. John Cherwa, Los Angeles Times, 2 Nov. 2024 If a confusing and non-transparent promotion system frustrates employees and drives them away, providing an explanation of the unwritten promotion rules in writing to autistic employees might be an accommodation. Ludmila Praslova, Forbes, 30 Oct. 2024 And, for almost as long, anybody who followed this unwritten rule would’ve noticed a definitive geographic pattern: Somebody with an average income could buy in most every large city in the interior of the United States while affording basically nothing on the coasts. Mark Dent, thehustle.co, 18 Oct. 2024 Joining a company remotely means missing out on the subtle ways culture is absorbed—by observing how colleagues interact, picking up on the office’s unwritten rules, and experiencing the company’s environment firsthand. Benjamin Laker, Forbes, 9 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for unwritten 

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of unwritten was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near unwritten

Cite this Entry

“Unwritten.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unwritten. Accessed 26 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

unwritten

adjective
un·​writ·​ten ˌən-ˈrit-ᵊn How to pronounce unwritten (audio)
ˈən-
1
: not put in writing : oral, traditional
an unwritten law
2
: containing no writing : blank
unwritten pages

More from Merriam-Webster on unwritten

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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