unintentional

adjective

un·​in·​ten·​tion·​al
ˌən-in-ˈten(t)-sh(ə-)nəl
 How to pronounce unintentional (audio)
: not done by intention or design : not intentional
an unintentional effect
causing unintentional harm/offense
unintentionally adverb
an unintentionally offensive remark

Examples of unintentional in a Sentence

an unintentional encounter with an old classmate at the mall an unintentional insult that nevertheless was very hurtful
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
More often than not, however, the trickery is unintentional. Megan Feringa, New York Times, 8 May 2025 Her vast range of brushstrokes and marks, whether meticulous or unintentional, seems infinite and intrinsically intertwined. Natasha Gural, Forbes.com, 26 Apr. 2025 As in Hogan’s suit, First Amendment advocates worry the suit has been brought as a vehicle to ultimately get the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn a 1964 landmark ruling in a case also involving The Times, which set a high bar for public officials who try to sue journalists for unintentional mistakes. Molly Crane-Newman, New York Daily News, 22 Apr. 2025 Leach’s estate argued Tesla was aware of situations in which its vehicles suddenly accelerated and had released several safety features, including automatic emergency braking and a system to distinguish unintentional pedal movements. Julia Shapero, The Hill, 22 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for unintentional

Word History

First Known Use

1782, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of unintentional was in 1782

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Cite this Entry

“Unintentional.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unintentional. Accessed 18 May. 2025.

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