unwritten
UK: ʌnˈrɪt(ə)n | US: ʌnˈrɪt(ə)n
adj. not recorded in writing; based on custom or tradition rather than written law
adj. (of a rule or understanding) informally agreed upon but not formally stated
The word "unwritten" combines the Old English prefix "un-" (meaning "not") with the verb "write," derived from Proto-Germanic *writaną ("to carve, scratch"), reflecting early writing methods. The suffix "-en" marks the past participle, forming an adjective. The term originally described physical absence of writing but evolved to denote informal or tacit agreements (e.g., "unwritten rules").
The tribe's history was passed down through unwritten oral traditions.
There's an unwritten rule against wearing shoes indoors in their culture.
Her unwritten novel existed only in her imagination.
Many social norms remain unwritten yet widely understood.
The contract was unwritten but legally binding under common law.