What does unissued mean?
“Unissued” means not yet issued, officially published, or put into circulation. Its best-known use is in corporate and legal language, especially in the expression “unissued shares.” These are shares authorized by a company but not yet issued to shareholders; they remain part of the company’s stock rather than representing ownership allocated to an investor. The term can also describe coins, banknotes, documents, or other items that have been prepared but remain officially unreleased. “Unissued” is more precise than “unreleased,” because it suggests a formal process that has not yet occurred rather than merely announcing something prematurely. It is mainly formal vocabulary found in legal, financial, institutional, and official contexts. For readers interested in company law, “unissued share capital” is a particularly useful related phrase, while the word itself clearly signals the difference between what a company has authorized and what it has actually issued.
adjectiveNot issued, especially not yet officially issued, published, or put into circulation. In corporate law, it most commonly refers to shares that have not yet been issued to shareholders.
- Not yet issued or officially put into circulation, especially of shares or other financial instruments.
"The directors agreed to reserve part of the company’s unissued share capital for a future acquisition."
"The company holds a substantial number of unissued ordinary shares."
"The banknotes remained unissued pending the official announcement."
Unissued shares are not yet shareholders’ property: they remain part of the company’s stock until formally issued.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does unissued come from?
“Unissued” was formed in English by adding the negative prefix un- to “issued.” The base word “issue” comes through Old French from Latin exitus, a form related to exire, “to go out.” “Exit” is a direct Latin cognate, while “issuer” and “issuance” are later English derivatives of “issue.”
How unissued is actually used
Most common in legal and financial writing, particularly in discussions of company shares and share capital. It is more specific than “unreleased,” which can apply broadly to products, media, and announcements.