WordGarden.iounidentified
C2Pronunciation
UK
- /ˌʌnaɪdˈɛntɪfˌaɪd/
US
- /ˌənaɪˈdɛntəˌfaɪd/
Meanings
Adjective
not yet recognized or established as a specific person or thing
Beyond the definition
Something "unidentified" is simply something whose identity has not been confirmed yet. You know something is there, but you do not know exactly what it is. Imagine hearing a strange rustle in the bushes at night or seeing a blurry shape on a radar screen. The word fits cases where the person, thing, or source is still unknown. You have likely heard of "Unidentified Flying Objects" (UFOs), lights in the sky that people cannot explain right away. But the word can also be used for ordinary things, like an "unidentified package" left on a doorstep until someone claims it.
The word "unidentified" describes anything whose nature, name, or origin is unknown or uncertain. It is formed by combining the prefix "un-" (meaning not) with "identified" (meaning recognized or classified). While it often appears in mystery novels or science fiction, it is actually a neutral term. It doesn't necessarily imply that something is spooky or sinister; it just states that the process of identification hasn't been successful yet.
You'll frequently encounter "unidentified" in contexts involving investigation or discovery. In a legal or medical context, officials may try to identify "unidentified remains." In science, a biologist might find an "unidentified organism" that has not yet been matched to a known category.
The term gained significant cultural weight through its association with "Unidentified Flying Objects" (UFOs), now more formally referred to by experts as UAPs (Unidentified Aerial Phenomena). This connection often gives the word a sense of "the unexplained" or even the extraterrestrial. However, in everyday life, "unidentified" is simply a placeholder. Whether it is a caller ID showing an "unidentified number" or a strange sound in the attic, the word signals that a puzzle is waiting to be solved and a story is waiting to be told.
Examples
- 1
Police report
Police released a photo of an unidentified man seen near the station.
- 2
Workplace safety
The office was evacuated after workers found a package containing an unidentified powder.
- 3
News source
Reporters said the information came from an unidentified government official.
- 4
Victim identity
The victim remained unidentified for several days.
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Beach discovery
Scientists are studying an unidentified object that washed up on the beach.
See also
Similar
Shades of meaning
Contrast
Used with (collocations)
- unidentified person
- unidentified object
- unidentified remains
- unidentified flying object
Word family
Explore
- identity
- missing person
Forms and spellings
1 form open this card.
Main spelling
- unidentifiedadjective