inadvertently

American  

[in-uhd-vur-tnt-lee] / ˌɪn ədˈvɜr tnt li /

adverb

1. unintentionally; without meaning to.

   I apologize to anyone I have inadvertently left off this list.

2. through lack of attention; without anyone noticing.

   There is the potential for one set of rules to inadvertently replace another.

---

Etymology

Origin of inadvertently

inadvertent ( def. ) + -ly

Example Sentences

People should avoid inadvertently contacting the one-touch tilt-and-slide button for the second-row seats while entering and exiting the third row, the company said.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 23, 2026

But it came at a cost, the report suggests, by inadvertently sending the message that healthcare spaces were closed.

From BBC • Mar. 19, 2026

“It inadvertently allowed one spouse to claim just their spousal benefit when they reached full retirement age,” Mantell explained in her book.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 18, 2026

But the technology's explosive spread has alarmed security researchers and corporate IT departments wary of employees inadvertently exposing company systems to hackers or causing disruption.

From Barron's • Mar. 16, 2026

Men were standing along the wall, too, I realized, on either side of a gate that had been inadvertently left ajar.

From "Newjack: Guarding Sing Sing" by Ted Conover

Related Words

• negligently
• recklessly