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unidentified

unidentified

4.2
Not known or named
  • adjective
  • /ˌʌnɪˈdɛntɪfaɪd/
translation icon : no identificado
  • The US Congress recently had a hearing about unidentified aerial phenomena, Uaps, the new UFOs.
  • unidentified remains
  • unidentified object
  • unidentified flying object

So, you know, we would call that maybe a USO, unidentified submerged object.

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Examples

  • In early July, Morris was fascinated by reports of Unidentified Flying Objects being sighted all over the country.

    Fiction book (2001)
  • The team discovered an unidentified object in the forest, leaving them puzzled.

  • I got an unidentified plane...

  • And there were also three very small unidentified metal objects.

  • There were five unidentified profiles either on the clothing around the body or near the crime scene.

  • Sir, it appears we have unidentified radar contacts.

  • When the police arrived, Kim was holding a knife and talking with two unidentified individuals in a nearby vehicle.

    Academic text (2017)
  • Lily watched as a composite of the sensor's description of the unidentified ship took shape on the screen.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • Radar picks up an unidentified target, tracking it eastward at immense speed.

  • He received a call from an unidentified number, which made him suspicious.

Synonyms

unknown
vsunidentified
629 2.3

Not known or named, often with no name given

refers to things not yet found or given a name
anonymous
vsunidentified
317 4.5

Has no known public name or source

covers items simply not known or identified, not only those kept secret
unnamed
vsunidentified
59 4.4

Not having a name mentioned or known

often applies when something is not yet named or found
nameless
vsunidentified
44 4.4

A person or thing with no known name

is used more broadly for things not yet identified or recognized
unrecognized
vsunidentified
3 4.2

Not known or noticed by other people

focuses on being not yet found or named instead of just lacking recognition

Antonyms

Shown to be a particular person or thing

Compounds

A flying object seen in the sky whose origin is not known and often thought to be from space

How Identified

known
2 1.0
unknown
629 2.3
unidentified
4.2

Surface Forms

unidentified positive

Morphology

unidentified = identified (transparent) = un + identify + ed

The adjective is formed by adding the negative prefix 'un-' to 'identified', yielding a straightforward negation.

Etymology

Unidentified is made of un- 'not' and identify, which is the same root as identity meaning 'who someone is'. So, unidentified means 'not known' or 'not named'.