adjective
Uncommon
unidentified
uh-neye-DEHN-tih-fyd
Unidentified (adjective) means not identified; whose name or nature is unknown. Example: “An unidentified man was seen leaving the building late at night.”
adjective
1
Not identified; whose name or nature is unknown.
"The U.S. and Canada are investigating three unidentified flying objects shot down over North America in the past three days. Militaries have adjusted radars to try to spot more incursions."
— Julian E. Barnes, What’s Going On Up There? Theories but No Answers in Shootdowns of Mystery Craft (2023)
"An unidentified man was seen leaving the building late at night."
"The remains were unidentified for over a decade before DNA testing confirmed who they were."
How to use unidentified
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishWhoever or whatever it is, nobody has figured out who or what yet.
Common pairings
unidentified object
unidentified suspect
unidentified remains
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like unidentified.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
An _____ man was seen leaving the building late at night.
Etymology
From un- ("not") + identified.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for unidentified
See all rhymes for unidentified →Frequently asked questions
What does “unidentified” mean?
The word “unidentified” means not identified; whose name or nature is unknown. In plain terms, whoever or whatever it is, nobody has figured out who or what yet.
How do you pronounce “unidentified”?
“Unidentified” is pronounced uh-neye-DEHN-tih-fyd (/ˌʌnaɪˈdɛntɪfaɪd/ in IPA).
How do you use “unidentified” in a sentence?
Here is “unidentified” used in a sentence: “An unidentified man was seen leaving the building late at night.”
What part of speech is “unidentified”?
“Unidentified” is an adjective.
Is “unidentified” a common word?
“Unidentified” is an uncommon word in modern English.
What is the difference between unidentified and anonymous?
Unidentified means the name or nature of something has not yet been established, often because information is missing, such as an unidentified body or unidentified object. Anonymous means the identity is deliberately withheld or not disclosed, such as an anonymous donor. Unidentified implies uncertainty, while anonymous implies concealment.
Why is unidentified often used in news reports?
News reports use unidentified when facts, such as a person's name or the nature of an object, are not yet confirmed by authorities. It signals that identification is pending rather than permanently unknown.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include unidentified:
