unintentional

adjective

un·​in·​ten·​tion·​al

ˌən-in-ˈten(t)-sh(ə-)nəl

 

: not done by intention or design : not intentional

an unintentional effect

causing unintentional harm/offense

unintentionally adverb

an unintentionally offensive remark

Synonyms

• accidental
• casual
• chance
• fluky
• flukey
• fortuitous
• inadvertent
• incidental
• unintended
• unplanned
• unpremeditated
• unwitting

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

The condition can cause symptoms like exhaustion, irritability, unintentional weight loss, hand tremors, and skin discoloration, according to the Mayo Clinic. About 1 percent of Americans have Graves' disease, according to Yale Medicine. —Wesley Stenzel, EW.com, 14 June 2025

In the aftermath, five people were charged in connection with his death, three with negligent homicide, or unintentional manslaughter, and two with supplying drugs. —Anna Kaufman, USA Today, 12 June 2025

Colon cancer may also cause rectal bleeding and unintentional weight loss. —Carrie Madormo, Health, 1 June 2025

Some players have also discovered an unintentional perk of the gold card—social clout. —Jacob Feldman, Sportico.com, 30 May 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1782, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for unintentional

• interventional
• nonconventional
• nondimensional
• unconventional
• attentional
• conventional
• dimensional
• extensional
• intensional
• intentional
• multidimensional
• unidimensional