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View synonyms for

unknown

[ uhn-nohn ]

adjective

  1. not known; not within the range of one's knowledge, experience, or understanding; strange; unfamiliar.
  2. not discovered, explored, identified, or ascertained:

    the unknown parts of Antarctica.

  3. not widely known; not famous; obscure:

    an unknown writer.



noun

  1. a thing, influence, area, factor, or person that is unknown:

    the many unknowns in modern medicine; The director cast an unknown in the leading role.

  2. Mathematics. a symbol representing an unknown quantity: in algebra, analysis, etc., frequently represented by a letter from the last part of the alphabet, as x, y, or z.

unknown

/ ʌˈəʊ /

adjective

  1. not known, understood, or recognized
  2. not established, identified, or discovered

    an unknown island

  3. not famous; undistinguished

    some unknown artist

  4. unknown quantity
    a person or thing whose action, effect, etc, is unknown or unpredictable
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

noun

  1. an unknown person, quantity, or thing
  2. maths a variable, or the quantity it represents, the value of which is to be discovered by solving an equation; a variable in a conditional equation

    3y = 4x + 5 is an equation in two unknowns

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Derived Forms

  • ܲˈԴǷɲԲԱ, noun
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Word History and Origins

Origin of unknown1

First recorded in 1250–1300, unknown is from the Middle English word unknow(e)n. See un- 1, known
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

Confidential papers seen by the BBC show a Kurdish court closed the investigation into Alan's killing, saying the perpetrator was unknown.

From

Hubris is not unknown in the field of politics.

From

Spain's political leaders said the cause of the disruption was still unknown but there was no indication of a cyber attack.

From

"Nobody in England knew an awful lot about him. Everybody who knows football said it was going to be a huge task and that this was an unknown coach who comes from the Netherlands."

From

There is a big unknown lurking out there, though: is Aaron Rodgers planning to do?

From

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unknowingunknown quantity