Not yet checked, proved, or officially backed up. You use it about news, reports, numbers, and rumours that are going around but which no responsible source has verified: *unconfirmed reports*, *unconfirmed rumours*, *the death toll is unconfirmed*, *these figures remain unconfirmed*.

Not yet checked, proved, or officially backed up還沒經過查證、證實或官方確認. You use it about news, reports, numbers, and rumours that are going around你會用這個詞來形容正在流傳、但no responsible source has verified沒有負責任的來源查證過的新聞、報導、數字和謠言: *unconfirmed reports*像"unconfirmed reports"(未經證實的報導), *unconfirmed rumours*"unconfirmed rumours"(未經證實的傳聞), *the death toll is unconfirmed*"the death toll is unconfirmed"(死亡人數尚未確認), *these figures remain unconfirmed*"these figures remain unconfirmed"(這些數字仍未經證實).

This word is journalism's careful hedge. When a reporter says *there are unconfirmed reports of an explosion*, they are telling you two things at once: something may have happened, and please do not fully believe me yet.

This word這個詞 is journalism's careful hedge是新聞業謹慎留一手的說法. When a reporter says當記者說 *there are unconfirmed reports of an explosion*"there are unconfirmed reports of an explosion"(有未經證實的爆炸報導), they are telling you two things at once他們同時在告訴你兩件事: something may have happened某件事可能發生了, and please do not fully believe me yet而且請你先別完全相信我.

It does not mean false — that is *untrue* or *denied* — it means the checking has not finished. A thing can be unconfirmed and turn out perfectly true. That gap is the whole point of the word.

It does not mean false它不代表是假的 — that is *untrue* or *denied*那是"untrue"或"denied" — it means the checking has not finished它的意思是查證還沒完成. A thing can be unconfirmed一件事可以是unconfirmed and turn out perfectly true但最後證實完全是真的. That gap這個空隙 is the whole point of the word正是這個詞存在的意義.

Outside news it works anywhere something is waiting on official word: *my booking is still unconfirmed*, *the date is unconfirmed*, *an unconfirmed appointment*. There is also a religious use — a person who has not gone through the Christian ceremony of confirmation — but a learner will meet the news sense far, far more often.

Outside news在新聞以外, it works anywhere something is waiting on official word只要有東西在等官方的正式說法,就可以用: *my booking is still unconfirmed*像"my booking is still unconfirmed"(我的訂位還沒確認), *the date is unconfirmed*"the date is unconfirmed"(日期未定), *an unconfirmed appointment*"an unconfirmed appointment"(未確認的預約). There is also a religious use還有一個宗教上的用法 — a person who has not gone through the Christian ceremony of confirmation指還沒經過基督教堅信禮的人 — but a learner will meet the news sense far, far more often但學習者遇到新聞這個意思的機會多得多.