an undocumented

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "an undocumented" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when referring to something that is not officially recorded or lacks documentation, often in contexts related to immigration or data. Example: "The report highlighted an undocumented case of fraud." Alternative expressions include "an unregistered" and "a non-documented."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

He's not an undocumented immigrant.

The New York Times

He stayed anyway, becoming an undocumented immigrant.

The New Yorker

But I am still an undocumented immigrant.

The New York Times - Magazine

It's less expensive to hire an undocumented person".

The New York Times - Food

I am an undocumented student at Stanford University.

The Guardian - Opinion

An assistant district attorney, Mark Hale, described Mr. Chen as a "transient" and an "undocumented alien".

The New York Times

MOSCOW — As of last Friday, I am an undocumented person in my own country.

The New York Times

This she did & then asked if his father would be satisfied with an undocumented report.

The New Yorker

It nullifies any contracts when one party is an undocumented immigrant.

The New York Times

In television terms, "The Daily Show" is an undocumented immigrant in China.

The New Yorker

There's not an activity in everyday life where an undocumented worker isn't involved".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In technical contexts, use it to describe 'APIs' or software features that exist but are not mentioned in the official manual.

Common error

Avoid using 'undocumented' when you specifically mean 'unrecorded' in a chronological sense. 'Undocumented' implies a lack of supporting evidence or status, whereas 'unrecorded' simply means the data was not captured at the time it occurred.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "an undocumented" serves as an adjectival modifier consisting of the indefinite article 'an' and the past participle 'undocumented'. According to Ludwig, its primary role is to qualify a noun by indicating a lack of formal evidence, legal status or official record. It often functions as a more neutral or 'person-first' descriptor in socio-political contexts compared to more pejorative alternatives.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Social Media

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "an undocumented" is a highly versatile and grammatically correct phrase used across a variety of professional domains. Ludwig data shows a strong prevalence in high-tier journalism where it often precedes terms like 'immigrant', 'worker' or 'student' to describe legal status neutrally. However, its utility extends far beyond social issues; it is a staple in scientific and technical writing to describe 'APIs', 'features' or 'phenomena' that lack official records. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is preferred in formal registers for its objectivity and precision. When using it, ensure the context clearly differentiates between a lack of official status and a simple failure to record data.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a non-documented

A more technical and slightly less common hyphenated variation

an unregistered

Focuses on the lack of official entry in a database or registry

an unrecorded

Emphasizes that the event or data was never captured in writing

an unauthorized

Highlights the lack of official permission or sanction

an unofficial

Suggests something done without formal institutional backing

an off-the-books

Idiomatic and informal, usually referring to financial transactions

an illegal

Carries stronger legal and often controversial connotations regarding status

a clandestine

Implies a level of secrecy or intentional hiding

an unwritten

Refers to rules or stories that exist without being documented

a paperless

Often used in modern contexts to describe digital-only systems

FAQs

How to use "an undocumented" in a sentence?

You can use "an undocumented" to describe something lacking official records, such as "The researcher discovered "an undocumented" species in the rainforest" or "He began his career as "an undocumented" worker."

What can I say instead of "an undocumented"?

Depending on your context, you might use "an unregistered", "an unrecorded", or "an unauthorized".

Which is more formal, "an undocumented" or "unrecorded"?

Both are formal, but they serve different purposes. Use ""an undocumented"" for status or lack of papers and "unrecorded" for data that was never written down.

Is "an undocumented" appropriate for software?

Yes, it is very common in computer science to refer to "an undocumented feature" or "an undocumented API".