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
Shooting down drones Americans developed a keen interest in hostile drones over the last couple of years as hundreds of pilotless aircraft of unknown origin ran forays over Air Force bases and overflew cities.
—
Ray Stern, AZCentral.com, 2 July 2025
In the finale, an explosion of unknown origin triggers the structural collapse of a downtown high-rise apartment building in Los Angeles, leaving hundreds of inhabitants trapped under the rubble.
—Max Gao, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2019
Plus, the post-credits scene of Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings saw Shang-Chi strategizing about a threat of unknown origin with Wong (Benedict Wong), Captain Marvel (Brie Larson) and a mysteriously de-Hulked Bruce Banner (Mark Ruffalo).
—Siddhant Adlakha, Vulture, 2 May 2025
Fire of unknown origin destroyed the home of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Carlson in St. Lawrence Township last Sunday.
—Contributed Content, Twin Cities, 6 Feb. 2025
Schumer has advocated for the DHS to deploy systems like Robin Radar in response to the panic around what appeared to be drones of unknown origin, fueled by social media posts, that began in mid-November.
—Cyrus Farivar, Forbes, 19 Dec. 2024
His legs were covered in puncture wounds of unknown origin.
—Rachel Raposas, People.com, 21 Feb. 2025
In the early hours of Jan. 2, two weeks before the fires in Los Angeles broke out, an inferno of unknown origin tore through Kantamanto Market, West Africa’s largest secondhand clothing marketplace.
—Jasmin Malik Chua, Sourcing Journal, 3 Sep. 2019
First up is the Bride (Game of Thrones vet Indira Varma), a walking corpse of unknown origin.
—Hayden Mears, TVLine, 5 Dec. 2024
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Ray Stern, AZCentral.com, 2 July 2025
In the finale, an explosion of unknown origin triggers the structural collapse of a downtown high-rise apartment building in Los Angeles, leaving hundreds of inhabitants trapped under the rubble.
—Max Gao, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2019
Plus, the post-credits scene of Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings saw Shang-Chi strategizing about a threat of unknown origin with Wong (Benedict Wong), Captain Marvel (Brie Larson) and a mysteriously de-Hulked Bruce Banner (Mark Ruffalo).
—Siddhant Adlakha, Vulture, 2 May 2025
Fire of unknown origin destroyed the home of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Carlson in St. Lawrence Township last Sunday.
—Contributed Content, Twin Cities, 6 Feb. 2025
Schumer has advocated for the DHS to deploy systems like Robin Radar in response to the panic around what appeared to be drones of unknown origin, fueled by social media posts, that began in mid-November.
—Cyrus Farivar, Forbes, 19 Dec. 2024
His legs were covered in puncture wounds of unknown origin.
—Rachel Raposas, People.com, 21 Feb. 2025
In the early hours of Jan. 2, two weeks before the fires in Los Angeles broke out, an inferno of unknown origin tore through Kantamanto Market, West Africa’s largest secondhand clothing marketplace.
—Jasmin Malik Chua, Sourcing Journal, 3 Sep. 2019
First up is the Bride (Game of Thrones vet Indira Varma), a walking corpse of unknown origin.
—Hayden Mears, TVLine, 5 Dec. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Of unknown origin.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/of%20unknown%20origin. Accessed 21 Jul. 2025.
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