unofficially
Not on paper
Without official authorization, recognition, or announcement.
Something done unofficially lacks formal sanction but may still be widely known or accepted: Unofficially, the deal is done—we're just waiting on paperwork.
The word often signals information that's reliable but not yet confirmed through proper channels: Unofficially, she's been offered the job.
In an informal way
- informallyWithout official protocol
- relaxedFree of stress
- conversationallyIn spoken exchange style
- looselyWithout being tight
colloquially · unbuttoned · off-duty · socially · unpretentiously · friendly · personally · intimately
Without official protocol
- ad-hocFor a specific purpose
- impromptuWithout advance preparation
- provisionallyConditionally, pending confirmation
- makeshiftTemporary, improvised substitute
temporarily · unplanned · spontaneously · rough-and-ready · jury-rigged · stopgap · interim · working
Without others' knowledge
- clandestinelyIn a hidden manner
- covertlyDone without detection
- surreptitiouslyIn a hidden manner
- stealthilyIn a covert manner
furtively · undercover · incognito · underground · under-the-radar · behind-the-scenes · on-the-sly · undetected
Not for attribution
- privateRestricted to certain parties
- secretConcealed information
- backchannelUnofficial communication pathway
- discreetCareful to avoid notice
unattributed · anonymous · insider · hush-hush · under-the-table · whispered · leaked · tip-off
Not formally recognized
- unsanctionedNot officially permitted
- unauthorizedNot officially permitted
- unratifiedNot formally confirmed
- unconfirmedNot officially validated
unaccredited · unendorsed · unregistered · undocumented · invalidated · unapproved · uncertified · unvalidated
casually
In an informal way
- informallyWithout official protocol
- relaxedFree of stress
- conversationallyIn spoken exchange style
loosely · colloquially · unbuttoned · off-duty · socially · unpretentiously · friendly · personally · intimately · candidly
informally
Without official protocol
- ad-hocFor a specific purpose
- impromptuWithout advance preparation
- provisionallyConditionally, pending confirmation
makeshift · temporarily · unplanned · spontaneously · rough-and-ready · jury-rigged · stopgap · interim · working · placeholder
secretly
Without others' knowledge
- clandestinelyIn a hidden manner
- covertlyDone without detection
- surreptitiouslyIn a hidden manner
stealthily · furtively · undercover · incognito · underground · under-the-radar · behind-the-scenes · on-the-sly · undetected · unobserved
off-the-record
Not for attribution
- privateRestricted to certain parties
- secretConcealed information
- backchannelUnofficial communication pathway
discreet · unattributed · anonymous · insider · hush-hush · under-the-table · whispered · leaked · tip-off · confidentially
unacknowledged
Not formally recognized
- unsanctionedNot officially permitted
- unauthorizedNot officially permitted
- unratifiedNot formally confirmed
unconfirmed · unaccredited · unendorsed · unregistered · undocumented · invalidated · unapproved · uncertified · unvalidated · unattested
unofficiallyofficially
With authorized sanction
formally · authoritatively · by the book · legitimately · sanctioned
unofficiallyon the record
Openly stated, quotable
publicly · for the record · openly · transparently · on paper