Unattributed: meaning, definitions and examples

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unattributed

 

[ˌʌnəˈtrɪbjuˌtɪd ]

Definition

Context #1 | Adjective

source of information

Not attributed to a specific source or author.

Synonyms

anonymous, uncredited, undocumented.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
unattributed

Used when mentioning work, a quote, or a piece of information that does not have a given source or author's name.

  • The quote was unattributed in the article
uncredited

Used in the context of works, especially in entertainment and media, where someone did not receive official acknowledgment for their contribution.

  • The actor was uncredited in the film despite playing a key role
anonymous

Used when referring to a situation where a person's identity is deliberately withheld, often for privacy or safety reasons.

  • The donation was made by an anonymous benefactor
undocumented

Used when referring to something that lacks official records or formal acknowledgement, often in the context of immigrant status or historical data.

  • The worker's status was undocumented

Examples of usage

  • The article contained unattributed quotes from various officials.
  • The unattributed information raised concerns about its reliability.

Interesting Facts

Etymology

  • The prefix 'un-' means 'not', while 'attributed' comes from the Latin 'attributus', meaning 'to assign or regard something as belonging to'.
  • The word has been used in English since the early 20th century, primarily in the context of works of art and literature.

Literature

  • Many famous quotes are often unattributed, making it hard to know who originally said them.
  • In literary studies, unattributed works can lead to discussions about authorship and the importance of crediting creators.

Art

  • Unattributed artworks, especially those from ancient times, challenge historians to decipher their origin and significance.
  • In museums, many pieces may remain unattributed due to the loss of records over time, which can change their perceived value.

Intellectual Property

  • In academic settings, unattributed sources can lead to issues of plagiarism, emphasizing the importance of giving credit.
  • Legal protections exist for unattributed works, allowing creators to seek recognition, sometimes even after their works were initially dismissed.

Pop Culture

  • The phrase 'unattributed quote' has been popularized, especially on social media, often leading to attribution disputes.
  • Various memes and viral posts often circulate unattributed, highlighting the ownership issues in digital content sharing.

Translations

Translations of the word "unattributed" in other languages:

🇵🇹 não atribuído

🇮🇳 अप्रत्याशित

🇩🇪 nicht zugeordnet

🇮🇩 tidak teratribusi

🇺🇦 непризначений

🇵🇱 nieprzypisany

🇯🇵 未指定

🇫🇷 non attribué

🇪🇸 no atribuido

🇹🇷 atanmamış

🇰🇷 미지정

🇸🇦 غير منسوب

🇨🇿 nepřiřazený

🇸🇰 nepriradený

🇨🇳 未指派

🇸🇮 nepripisan

🇮🇸 óúthlutað

🇰🇿 тағайындалмаған

🇬🇪 მიუთითებელი

🇦🇿 təyin edilməmiş

🇲🇽 no atribuido

Word Frequency Rank

Ranking #36,104, this word is encountered relatively rarely in everyday English. It might appear in literary works or specialized texts but isn't essential for general communication.