Unwritten (Adjective)
Meaning 1
Using speech rather than writing; "an oral tradition"; "an oral agreement".
Classification
All adjective clusters.
Examples
- The family's history was passed down through an unwritten oral tradition, with stories told from generation to generation.
- Many business deals are based on unwritten agreements and a handshake rather than formal contracts.
- In some cultures, laws and customs are unwritten, but still widely understood and respected.
- The unwritten rules of the community were clear, and everyone knew what was expected of them.
- When working with suppliers, the company relied on unwritten agreements and trust rather than formal agreements.
Synonyms
Meaning 2
Said or done without having been planned or written in advance; "he made a few ad-lib remarks".
Classification
All adjective clusters.
Examples
- The boss's unwritten rule was that all employees must arrive on time for meetings.
- Her passionate speech was full of unwritten love letters that flowed from the heart.
- During the debate, he made several unwritten promises to the audience that turned out to be lies.
- The team devised an unwritten strategy in the game, catching the opponents off guard.
- As the movie progressed, the characters' unwritten understanding of each other deepened.
Synonyms
Meaning 3
Based on custom rather than documentation; "an unwritten law"; "rites...so ancient that they well might have had their unwritten origins in Aurignacian times"- J.L.T.C.Spence.
Classification
All adjective clusters.
Examples
- In many Indigenous cultures, unwritten laws have guided community behavior for generations, passing down traditions and social norms through oral storytelling.
- An unwritten rule among close friends is that personal conflicts should be resolved through private discussions rather than public confrontations.
- It was an unwritten agreement that neighbors would look out for each other's children during family vacations.
- Despite its popularity, there is an unwritten expectation that children from the town's wealthy families should participate in volunteer work as a form of community service.
- This community follows an unwritten tradition that forbids public celebration during a neighbor's time of mourning.