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.

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Etymology

Origin of inadvertently

inadvertent ( def. ) + -ly

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.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

inadvertently

What fascinated me most, however, was that the entire experience inadvertently proved the very point of my talk.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 11, 2026

Per capita divides the account equally among whoever is still living, which can inadvertently cut out an entire branch of the family.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 10, 2026

It is also hoped the tagging can better protect the rare birds from having their nests, on the ground, hidden among crops, inadvertently destroyed.

From BBC ● Aug. 24, 2026

But there may be another reason, too, said Jim Farrar, director of the UC Statewide Integrated Pest Management Program: State laws and local ordinances that have banned certain rodenticides could be inadvertently fueling typhoid outbreaks.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 16, 2026

But no: There it is, inadvertently circled by the tracing I'd made.

From "Girl in the Blue Coat" by Monica Hesse

Related Words

• negligently
• recklessly