inadvertently

[ in-uhd-vur-tnt-lee ]

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.

Word History and Origins

Origin of inadvertently¹

inadvertent ( def ) + -ly

Example Sentences

Systemic problems, including low wages, mean that many nursing homes are still relying on contract employees to fill shifts, inadvertently enabling the spread of the virus.

From Washington Post

As the nation’s death toll since the start of the pandemic reached 250,000, officials spoke of the risks in stark terms, warning that as friends and relatives get together over the holidays, they could inadvertently bring the coronavirus with them.

From Washington Post

By failing to swiftly vaccinate the world’s billions of young people, and allowing them to become infected, we could inadvertently nurture a new pandemic.

From Fortune

An interstellar ark transporting the last humans on Earth to a new home inadvertently brings along a shape-shifting alien stowaway in Breach, a new sci-fi action film starring Bruce Willis and directed by John Suits.

From Ars Technica

Hill is one of the most famous climbers of all time, yet somehow, this easily fact-checkable milestone was inadvertently erased by many major news outlets around the world last weekend.

From Outside Online

In its attempt to discredit the story, the JPO inadvertently confirmed that fact.

From The Daily Beast

Do you worry about glorifying war, even inadvertently, by depicting it as something sacrosanct?

From The Daily Beast

Minutes into the rerelease of Grand Theft Auto V, I inadvertently stomped a cat to death.

From The Daily Beast

Katniss walks through mountains of skeletons, at one point recoiling in horror as she inadvertently steps on a skull.

From The Daily Beast

But she had no way to know for sure until August, when a legal filing was inadvertently made public by a federal court.

From The Daily Beast

She turned her gaze away from the mirror, and saw Sarah's grey head inadvertently nodding, as it always nodded.

From Project Gutenberg

She did not know why she put on the Mr. It came inadvertently, but was the most fortunate thing she could have done.

From Project Gutenberg

Assuming that the reverend gentleman was inadvertently buried alive, we deprecate this delay.

From Project Gutenberg

Here, therefore, I seek but to bring back to your memory what livelier sensations have inadvertently driven from it.

From Project Gutenberg

Inadvertently turning a hatch upside down, is considered an unfavourable sign.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• negligently
• recklessly