What does unsealed mean?
Unsealed is an English word meaning that a seal has been removed, broken, or was never attached. It is most often used as an adjective, especially for letters, envelopes, containers, and parcels: an unsealed package is one whose seal is absent or broken, while an unsealed document may mean either physically open or officially available to the public. The word can also function as the past tense and past participle of unseal, as in “The court unsealed the records.” In legal and administrative contexts, unsealed carries the important implication of no longer being confidential or restricted. The term is formal but widely understood, and it often suggests a deliberate change in access or status rather than merely an object that happens to be open. Its usefulness lies in combining the physical idea of breaking a seal with the broader idea of making sealed information accessible.
Not sealed or no longer sealed; physically open or exposed, or no longer protected by a confidentiality restriction.
"The envelope was unsealed when it reached the recipient."
In legal contexts, unsealed commonly means that a document or record has been released for public access.
The past tense and past participle of unseal: to remove a seal from something or make sealed information accessible.
"The judge unsealed the records on Friday."
“Unsealed” can mean a broken safety seal—or a court order making confidential records public.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does unsealed come from?
Unsealed is formed in English from un- plus seal, with the -ed ending marking an adjective or a completed verbal action. The verb seal derives from Old French seeler, ultimately from Latin sigillare, “to affix a seal,” while the noun comes through Old French seel from Latin sigillum, a small signet or seal. Spanish sellar and French sceller are Romance relatives of the same Latin verb, and the productive English prefix un- reverses the effect of sealing.
Related word forms
How unsealed is actually used
The word is formal but widely understood. As a participial adjective, it can describe either an object's current state or the result of an action. Its legal use—especially for court records and evidence—is especially established.