unbeknown

un·be·known
U1N1B3E1K5N1O1W4N1
UK/ʌnbɪˈnəʊn/US/ˌʌnbɪˈnoʊn/

adjective

Not beknown.

UncommonScrabble 18

Meanings

adjectiveunbeknown (comparative more unbeknown, superlative most unbeknown)

comparative more unbeknown · superlative most unbeknown · alternative unbeknownst

  1. Not beknown.
    1 more example

    Following the debate in question, Tim Loughton sent an unmarked copy of Hansard to his constituent to inform him that he would no longer be acting as his MP as the constituent had made this position untenable. [...] However, and unbeknown to Loughton, the constituent reported the debate to the police as a 'hate crime' and complained that sending a copy of Hansard was 'harassment'.

    2015, Roger Williams, “Harassment in Sussex”, in Rough Justice: Citizens’ Experience of Mistreatment and Injustice in the Early Stages of Law Enforcement, Hook, Hampshire: Waterside Press, →ISBN, part 1 (Contributions, Media and Experiences), page 106

Synonyms & antonyms

adjective(usually used with ‘to’) occurring or existing without the knowledge of

adverbwithout someone's knowledge

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

  1. Proto-Indo-European*né
  2. Proto-Indo-European*n̥-
  3. Proto-Germanic*un-
  4. Proto-West Germanic*un-
  5. Old Englishun-
  6. Middle Englishun-
  7. Englishun-
  8. Proto-Indo-European*h₁ep-
  9. Proto-Indo-European*h₁éps
  10. Proto-Indo-European*h₁épi
  11. Proto-Indo-European*h₁pi
  12. Proto-Germanic*bi
  13. Proto-Germanic*bi-
  14. Proto-West Germanic*bi-
  15. Old Englishbe-
  16. Middle Englishbi-
  17. Englishbe-
  18. Englishknown
  19. Englishbeknown
  20. Englishunbeknown

From un- + beknown.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

unbeknown. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/unbeknown

MLA

“unbeknown.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/unbeknown. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “unbeknown,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/unbeknown.

Source: unbeknown on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.