Unknown

/ʌnˈnoʊn/

Meaning & Definition

noun

A person or thing that is not known or familiar.

He was an unknown in the world of literature.

An event or situation whose outcome is uncertain.

Entering the project was filled with unknowns for the team.

adjective

Not known or familiar; not identified or recognized.

The source of the noise remained unknown.

Not established or ascertainable; not understood.

The reasons for the failure are still unknown.

Unfamiliar or unrecognized by a particular person or group.

Traveling to an unknown country can be both exciting and daunting.

From Middle English unknowe, from Old English uncnāw (un- 'not' + cnāwan 'to know').

the unknown

A situation or environment that is not understood.

unknown territory

A situation that is new and unfamiliar.

unknown quantity

An unpredictable or uncertain factor.

into the unknown

To venture into a situation that is unfamiliar and potentially risky.

unfamiliar

Not familiar or acquainted.

mystery

Something that is difficult or impossible to understand or explain.

secret

Something that is kept or meant to be kept unknown.

A person who is not well-known in a particular context.

He's just another unknown in the industry.

Something that is unexplained or surprising.

That twist was totally an unknown!