Something such as a book that is unwritten has not been printed or written down.
Publishers have bought the unwritten book of this trip for very large sums.
2. adjective [usually ADJECTIVE noun]
An unwritten rule, law, or agreement is one that is understood and accepted by everyone, although it may not have been formally or officially established.
They obey the one unwritten rule that binds them all–no talking.
Synonyms: understood, accepted, tacit, traditional More Synonyms of unwritten
More Synonyms of unwritten
unwritten in British English
(ʌnˈrɪtən)
adjective
1.
not printed or in writing
2.
effective only through custom; traditional
3.
without writing upon it
unwritten in American English
(ʌnˈrɪtən; ˈʌnˌrɪtən)
adjective
1.
not in writing; not written or printed
2.
operating only through custom or tradition
an unwritten rule
3.
not written on; blank
Examples of 'unwritten' in a sentence
unwritten
He failed to get the story and the book remains unwritten.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
They could hardly have done otherwise after the unwritten agreement between players and umpires more or less to ignore the idea.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Your future is an unwritten book.
The Sun (2015)
That is the unwritten agreement.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
You will of course be buying a ticket for a show that is, as yet, unwritten!
The Sun (2011)
In other languages
unwritten
British English: unwritten ADJECTIVE
Something such as a book that is unwritten has not been printed or written down.
They have agreed to pay an advance for his next, as yet unwritten, novel.
American English: unwritten
Brazilian Portuguese: tácito
Chinese: 未付印的
European Spanish: no escrito
French: pas encore écritN
German: ungeschrieben
Italian: non scritto
Japanese: 成文化されていない
Korean: 인쇄되지 않은
European Portuguese: tácito
Latin American Spanish: no escrito
All related terms of 'unwritten'
unwrite
to cancel (what has been written)
unwritten law
the law based upon custom , usage , and judicial decisions , as distinguished from the enactments of a legislature , orders or decrees in writing, etc
unwritten code
A code is a set of rules about how people should behave or about how something must be done.
the unwritten law
the tradition that a person may avenge any insult to family integrity , as used to justify criminal acts of vengeance
unwritten constitution
a constitution , as in Great Britain, not codified as a document but defined by custom and precedent as embodied in statutes and judicial decisions
1 (adjective)
Definition
not printed or in writing
the unwritten stories of his infancy and childhood
Synonyms
oral
All students have to take a written and oral examination.
word-of-mouth
unrecorded
vocal
a child's ability to imitate rhythms and vocal sounds
2 (adjective)
Definition
operating only through custom
They obey the one unwritten rule that binds them all – no talking.
Synonyms
understood
The technical equality of all officers was understood.
accepted
There is no generally accepted definition of life.
tacit
a tacit admission that a mistake had been made
traditional
Traditional teaching methods can put students off learning.
conventional
The conventional wisdom on these matters is being challenged.
silent
He watched with silent contempt.
customary
It is customary to offer a drink or a snack to guests.
implicit
She wanted to make explicit in the film what was implicit in the play.
unformulated
Additional synonyms
in the sense of accepted
Definition
commonly approved or recognized
There is no generally accepted definition of life.
Synonyms
agreed,
received,
common,
standard,
established,
traditional,
confirmed,
regular,
usual,
approved,
acknowledged,
recognized,
sanctioned,
acceptable,
universal,
authorized,
customary,
agreed upon,
time-honoured,
admitted,
normal,
conventional
in the sense of conventional
Definition
established by accepted usage or general agreement
The conventional wisdom on these matters is being challenged.
Synonyms
traditional,
accepted,
prevailing,
orthodox,
customary,
prevalent,
hidebound,
wonted
in the sense of customary
Definition
usual
It is customary to offer a drink or a snack to guests.
Synonyms
usual,
general,
common,
accepted,
established,
traditional,
normal,
ordinary,
familiar,
acknowledged,
conventional,
routine,
everyday
Synonyms of 'unwritten'
unwritten
Explore 'unwritten' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of implicit
Definition
expressed indirectly
She wanted to make explicit in the film what was implicit in the play.
Synonyms
implied,
understood,
suggested,
hinted at,
taken for granted,
unspoken,
inferred,
tacit,
undeclared,
insinuated,
unstated,
unsaid,
unexpressed
in the sense of silent
Definition
not spoken
He watched with silent contempt.
Synonyms
unspoken,
implied,
implicit,
tacit,
understood,
unexpressed
in the sense of tacit
Definition
understood or implied without actually being stated
a tacit admission that a mistake had been made
Synonyms
implied,
understood,
implicit,
silent,
taken for granted,
unspoken,
inferred,
undeclared,
wordless,
unstated,
unexpressed
in the sense of traditional
Definition
of, relating to, or being a tradition
Traditional teaching methods can put students off learning.
Synonyms
old-fashioned,
old,
established,
conventional,
standard,
fixed,
usual,
transmitted,
orthodox,
accustomed,
customary,
ancestral,
long-established,
unwritten,
time-honoured,
unadventurous
in the sense of vocal
Definition
of or relating to the voice
a child's ability to imitate rhythms and vocal sounds