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Unintentional - Meaning, Definition & English Examples

Unintentional means something done without planning or purpose, often by accident. It describes actions or outcomes that were not deliberate, such as an unintentional mistake or oversight.

unintentional

/ˌʌnɪnˈtɛnʃənəl/ /ˌʌnɪnˈtenʃənəl/

Definition:

Not done on purpose; accidental.

Synonyms:

accidental, inadvertent, unintended, involuntary, unplanned

Part of Speech:

adjective

Antonyms:

intentional, deliberate, purposeful

Common Collocations:

unintentional mistake, unintentional harm, unintentional consequence, unintentional error

Derivatives:

unintentionally, unintentionalness

Usage Tips:

Use "unintentional" to describe actions or outcomes that happen without planning or awareness.

Common Phrases:

slip of the tongue, honest mistake, Freudian slip

Etymology:

Derived from "un-" (not) + "intentional," from Latin "intentio" (purpose).

Examples:

  • 1. Her apology was sincere for the unintentional offense.
  • 2. The damage was unintentional but still costly.
  • 3. He made an unintentional error in the report.
  • 4. Their laughter was unintentional during the serious meeting.

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