unproven

adjective

un·​prov·​en ˌən-ˈprü-vən How to pronounce unproven (audio)
British also -ˈprō-
Synonyms of unprovennext
: not tested and shown to be good, true, or useful : not proven
an unproven allegation/theory
unproven benefits
unproven technology

Examples of unproven in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
In 1912 Ramanujan, a 24-year-old clerk at what was then the Madras Port Trust in India, began mailing pages of new, unproven formulas to mathematicians across England. — Lyndie Chiou, Scientific American, 29 Oct. 2026 At a meeting in July, FDA staffers reiterated that more than a half-dozen peptides brought forward for reconsideration remained unproven in terms of safety and effectiveness. — ABC News, 28 Oct. 2026 Wellness influencers and some clinicians have promoted unproven peptides for a wide range of uses, though the evidence for their safety and effectiveness is sparse. — Sydney Lupkin, NPR, 28 Oct. 2026 In a statement released Tuesday, before the new rule was released, the Center for Science in the Public Interest laid out several reasons why making unproven peptides more accessible is dangerous. — Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 28 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for unproven

Word History

First Known Use

1563, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of unproven was in 1563

Rhymes for unproven

See All Rhymes for unproven

Browse Nearby Words

unproved
unproven
unprovide
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Unproven.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unproven. Accessed 1 Nov. 2026.

Copy Citation

Legal Definition

unproven

adjective
un·​prov·​en
ˌən-ˈprü-vən
: not proven
an unproven allegation

More from Merriam-Webster on unproven

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for unproven

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of Pyrrhic

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Pwn, Skibidi, Girlboss and Other Words Added to the 2026 Scrabble Dictionary

The Words of the Week - Oct. 30

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
couple-laugh-cafe
Quiz: Foreign Phrases You Should Know Check out your bona fides and avoid any faux pas.
See All