undocumented
UK: ʌnˈdɒkjʊmɛntɪd | US: ʌnˈdɑːkjʊmɛntɪd
adj. not recorded or certified by official documents
adj. lacking proper authorization or legal status (e.g., immigrants)
The word combines the negative prefix "un-" (Old English "un-," meaning "not") with "document" (from Latin "documentum," meaning "proof" or "record," derived from "docere," to teach). The suffix "-ed" turns it into an adjective. Historically, "documented" referred to recorded evidence; adding "un-" flips the meaning to imply absence of official proof or legitimacy. The term gained modern prominence in immigration contexts to describe individuals lacking legal paperwork.
The study relied on undocumented sources, raising concerns about its validity.
Undocumented workers often face exploitation due to their vulnerable status.
Her family entered the country undocumented but later applied for asylum.
The software update caused undocumented changes to the system settings.
Historians uncovered undocumented letters revealing new details about the event.