adjective
unwritten
adjective
1
Not put into writing.
"The rule was unwritten but everyone followed it."
"Their agreement remained unwritten, based purely on trust."
2
Understood or agreed upon without being formally stated.
"There's an unwritten code among the drivers about not cutting each other off."
How to Use Unwritten
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSomething everyone follows or believes even though it was never formally recorded.
Common pairings
unwritten rule
unwritten law
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The rule was _____ but everyone followed it.
Etymology
From Old English unwriten, from un- (\"not\") plus written.