unseal
C1Formal, official, legal, or literary contexts.
Definition
Meaning
To open or make accessible by breaking or removing a seal.
To make something public or accessible that was previously closed, secret, or confidential.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily used literally for physical seals (e.g., on documents, containers, tombs) or metaphorically for revealing secrets. It is the direct opposite of 'seal'.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. The word is equally formal in both varieties.
Connotations
Connotes official procedure, revelation, or the act of opening something closed for a significant reason.
Frequency
Low-frequency verb in both dialects, mostly found in specific registers.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[NP] unseal [NP] (transitive)The court ordered the records to be unsealed (passive)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Break the seal (more common idiom for opening something, e.g., a drink)”
- “Lift the seal (less common, similar meaning)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Formal: 'The board voted to unseal the minutes of the closed meeting.'
Academic
Historical/Legal: 'The researcher petitioned to unseal the archival documents from the 1950s.'
Everyday
Rare. Might be used humorously or formally: 'I carefully unsealed the wax envelope.'
Technical
Legal/Law Enforcement: 'The judge refused to unseal the search warrant affidavits.'
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The solicitors were authorised to unseal the will in the presence of the beneficiaries.
- After decades, the government finally agreed to unseal the classified diplomatic files.
American English
- The judge granted the motion to unseal the arrest records.
- Archaeologists prepared to unseal the ancient burial chamber.
adjective
British English
- The unsealed indictment was published online.
- They drove down an unsealed dirt track.
American English
- The unsealed court documents revealed new evidence.
- Be careful with that unsealed container.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Please do not unseal this package until Christmas.
- The letter was sealed with wax.
- The court order allowed the police to unseal the evidence locker.
- Once you unseal this container, the contents must be used within a week.
- Historians lobbied for legislation to unseal all presidential archives after 50 years.
- The agreement contained a clause that would unseal the financial data only under specific arbitration conditions.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'UNdo the SEAL'. A seal keeps something closed; to 'unseal' is to remove that closure.
Conceptual Metaphor
KNOWING IS SEEING / ACCESSING IS OPENING: To unseal something is to allow knowledge or access to become visible/available.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid confusing with 'рассекретить' (declassify), which is more specific. 'Unseal' is broader and can be physical. 'Вскрыть' (to open by force/cut open) is a closer match for the literal action.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'unseal' for simply opening a door or lid without the concept of a formal/ceremonial seal. Confusing it with 'unseam' (to rip apart at the seams).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the verb 'unseal' LEAST likely to be used?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. While its core meaning is physical, it is very commonly used metaphorically, especially in legal and official contexts, to mean making information public (e.g., 'unseal records').
There is no direct, common nominalisation. The related concepts are 'seal', 'unsealing', or 'disclosure'. One might refer to 'the unsealing of the documents'.
Yes, by metaphorical extension. For example, 'The encrypted files were unsealed using a digital key.' It implies removing a layer of security or restricted access.
'Unseal' focuses on the act of removing the barrier to access (the seal). 'Reveal' focuses on the result of making something known or visible. You unseal a letter to reveal its contents.