Unannounced
/ˌʌnəˈnaʊnst/
Definitions
Not made known beforehand; without warning or prior notice.
/ˌʌnəˈnaʊnst/
Done or occurring without prior notice or warning.
The unannounced inspection caught the factory workers off guard.
💡 Simply: It means something happens without telling you first, like a surprise visit from a friend or when your favorite food is served for dinner.
👶 For kids: Happening without you knowing it was going to happen.
More Examples
The celebrity made an unannounced appearance at the charity event.
We got an unannounced email from our boss.
How It's Used
"The police made an unannounced raid on the suspect's home."
"We received an unannounced visit from our relatives during the holiday."
From 'un-' (not) + 'announced' (past participle of announce, from Old French 'anuncier,' meaning 'to give notice').
The word 'unannounced' has been used since the late 19th century to describe events that occur without prior notice, paralleling the development of communication technologies.
Memory tip
Imagine a surprise party – it's unannounced because no one knows about it beforehand.