Unknown
/ʌnˈnoʊn/
Definitions
2 meaningsNot known or ascertained; not familiar.
/ʌnˈnoʊn/
Not known or familiar; not within the range of one's knowledge or experience.
The outcome of the experiment is still unknown.
💡 Simply: Imagine a mystery. The 'unknown' is the part of the mystery you haven't figured out yet – like who stole the cookies!
👶 For kids: Something that you don't know about.
More Examples
They traveled to an unknown island.
Her whereabouts are unknown.
How It's Used
"The location of the lost treasure remains unknown."
"The cause of the disease is still unknown."
A person or thing that is not known or recognized.
/ʌnˈnoʊn/
An unknown person or thing.
The letter was signed by an unknown.
💡 Simply: Like a character in a book you don't know much about, a person you never met and don't know anything about
👶 For kids: Someone or something you don't know.
More Examples
The identity of the artist remains an unknown.
The experiment yielded several unknowns.
How It's Used
"The hero was confronted by an unknown in the shadows."
"They were tracking an unknown with a specific skill set."
Synonyms
Idioms & expressions
the unknown
Something that is not known or understood.
"Exploring the unknown is exciting, but also carries risks."
unknown quantity
A person or thing whose qualities or potential are not known.
"The new hire is an unknown quantity, but we're optimistic."
From Middle English *unknawen*, from Old English *uncnāwen* ('not known'), equivalent to un- + known. Cognate with Dutch *onbekend*, German *unbekannt*, and Swedish *okänd*.
The word 'unknown' has been used since Middle English, reflecting the human fascination with the limits of knowledge.
Memory tip
Think of an 'X' marking something you don't know on a map; it's the unknown territory.