unarticulated

Unarticulated is an adjective meaning not articulated; not expressed in speech or not produced as a discrete sound. It can also describe thoughts, emotions, or assumptions that are not stated outright but understood or implied. The word derives from un- + articulated, with articulation in the sense of speech or expression.

In linguistics, unarticulated may refer to a segment that is predicted by the linguistic system but not overtly realized in actual pronunciation, such as elided or assimilated sounds in rapid speech. It is distinct from silent letters or fully omitted sounds; it concerns the absence of phonetic realization in context.

In everyday language, unarticulated can describe feelings, opinions, rules, or expectations that remain unspoken. For example, unarticulated anger, unarticulated assumptions, or an unarticulated policy stance may influence behavior without being explicitly stated.

Unarticulated is often used interchangeably with tacit, implicit, or unspoken in many contexts, though it may emphasize the lack of articulation rather than lack of awareness. See also tacit knowledge, implicit communication, elision, silent letter.