of unknown origin
idiom
—used to say that the source or cause of something is not known
a disease of unknown origin
Examples of of unknown origin in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The mirrored structure of unknown origin emerged without warning on a hill overlooking the northern Colorado town of Bellvue, about an 8-mile drive northwest from Fort Collins, multiple outlets reported.
—
Brooke Baitinger, Idaho Statesman, 27 June 2024
In early March, Dr. Elisha Frye, an assistant professor of practice at Cornell's Department of Population Medicine and Diagnostic Sciences, received a call about an outbreak among Texas dairy herds of a disease of unknown origin.
—Eduardo Cuevas, USA TODAY, 3 Apr. 2024
Devi reportedly relayed a prophecy of unknown origin — the rock would break apart in one of two ways: Down the middle, humanity was facing extinction.
—Alex Wigglesworth, Los Angeles Times, 23 June 2024
Sheriff's deputies knocked on the doors of several homes to advise them to leave as a wildfire of unknown origin advanced.
—Mary Jo Pitzl, The Arizona Republic, 22 May 2024
This would create a public awareness of the necessity to take proactive steps to protect one’s health when discovering an insect/spider bite of unknown origin.
—For Carroll County Times, Baltimore Sun, 28 Apr. 2024
There are more leftover donuts from Valentine’s Day, these ones of unknown origin.
—Bon Appétit Contributor, Bon Appétit, 7 Mar. 2024
While Turner recorded, Dawley sang a song of unknown origin, passed down through the generations by her ancestors.
—Joshua Kagavi, Smithsonian Magazine, 29 Feb. 2024
At least one ship was damaged by a floating mine of unknown origin off the coast of Romania late last year.
—Tim Lister and Victoria Butenko, CNN, 14 Feb. 2024
Brooke Baitinger, Idaho Statesman, 27 June 2024
In early March, Dr. Elisha Frye, an assistant professor of practice at Cornell's Department of Population Medicine and Diagnostic Sciences, received a call about an outbreak among Texas dairy herds of a disease of unknown origin.
—Eduardo Cuevas, USA TODAY, 3 Apr. 2024
Devi reportedly relayed a prophecy of unknown origin — the rock would break apart in one of two ways: Down the middle, humanity was facing extinction.
—Alex Wigglesworth, Los Angeles Times, 23 June 2024
Sheriff's deputies knocked on the doors of several homes to advise them to leave as a wildfire of unknown origin advanced.
—Mary Jo Pitzl, The Arizona Republic, 22 May 2024
This would create a public awareness of the necessity to take proactive steps to protect one’s health when discovering an insect/spider bite of unknown origin.
—For Carroll County Times, Baltimore Sun, 28 Apr. 2024
There are more leftover donuts from Valentine’s Day, these ones of unknown origin.
—Bon Appétit Contributor, Bon Appétit, 7 Mar. 2024
While Turner recorded, Dawley sang a song of unknown origin, passed down through the generations by her ancestors.
—Joshua Kagavi, Smithsonian Magazine, 29 Feb. 2024
At least one ship was damaged by a floating mine of unknown origin off the coast of Romania late last year.
—Tim Lister and Victoria Butenko, CNN, 14 Feb. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'of unknown origin.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near of unknown origin
Cite this Entry
“Of unknown origin.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/of%20unknown%20origin. Accessed 15 Jul. 2024.
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