inadvertently
Americanadverb
-
unintentionally; without meaning to.
I apologize to anyone I have inadvertently left off this list.
-
through lack of attention; without anyone noticing.
There is the potential for one set of rules to inadvertently replace another.
Etymology
Origin of inadvertently
Explanation
Inadvertently is an adverb that means "without knowledge or intent," like when you inadvertently take someone else's coat from the coatroom because it looks just like yours. When you do something inadvertently, you don't mean to do it — you might inadvertently step in a puddle, leave something important at home, or hurt your friend's feelings. Some things that happen inadvertently aren't mistakes, though: They happen by chance. For example, if you just happen to park your car at the exact place that blocks a bus from hitting a pedestrian, you've inadvertently saved a life.
Vocabulary lists containing inadvertently
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
When Washington coach Jamie Clark inadvertently sat down next to her at the Surf Cup showcase in San Diego, she urged him to have a look at her son.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 19, 2026
A “gamma squeeze” happens when aggressive buying of bullish call options creates a self-fulfilling feedback loop, with market makers inadvertently pushing the value of the underlying asset higher while scrambling to hedge their positions.
From MarketWatch • Jun. 15, 2026
Nicola Killean warned that a ban "may inadvertently push children to less regulated or riskier parts of the internet".
From BBC • Jun. 15, 2026
Because their data access often lacks oversight, AI agents can inadvertently boost insider threats “just by working as designed,” said Eran Barak, co-founder and chief executive of cybersecurity firm MIND.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 2, 2026
Years at the Night Zoo had inadvertently made her something of an expert on the matter.
From "Beasts of Prey" by Ayana Gray
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
