American English
/ənˈnoʊn/
2 syllables · Stress the second syllable.
Not known, discovered, or identified.
Practice out loudNot known, discovered, or identified.
The cause of the fire is still unknown.
The police do not know the man's identity.
To say that a person does not know something, say “I don’t know the answer,” not “I am unknown of the answer.” Unknown describes the information, not the person’s lack of knowledge.
unknown cause · unknown identity · unknown number · previously unknown
an unknown + noun
be unknown to + person
Not familiar to a particular person or group.
The hikers entered unknown territory.
She moved to an unknown city to start over.
unknown territory · unknown language · completely unknown
A person who is not known or famous.
The young singer was an unknown before the competition.
He was a complete unknown to the voters.
a complete unknown · an unknown in the field
be an unknown in + field
a complete unknown to + group
A fact, number, or result that is not known.
The cost is still an unknown.
The biggest unknown is how long the repair will take.
a major unknown · the biggest unknown · an unknown factor
the biggest unknown is + noun
not known by a particular person
The change was unknown to us.
a person or thing whose ability, value, or effect is not yet known
The new player is an unknown quantity.
everything that is not known or understood
Fear of the unknown is common.