advertent

[ ad-vur-tnt ]

adjective

1. attentive; heedful.

Other Words From

• ad·vertent·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of advertent¹

1665–75; < Latin advertent- (stem of advertēns, present participle of advertere ), equivalent to ad- ad- + vert- turn + -ent- -ent

Example Sentences

“We don’t want to have the door open that they can go see advertent nudity and sexual acts or the depiction of sexual acts,” said Republican Sen. Becky Massey.

From Washington Times

Federal prison authorities, he said, “would have very, very substantial concerns about that because of the risk of either advertent or inadvertent disruption of the IV lines.”

From New York Times

The next morning Evelyn appears cold and still in her bed, as Stella realizes that she has become an inadvertent — or perhaps advertent? — murderer.

From Washington Post

And it’s very dark, so inadvertent — or advertent — touching just might occur.

From Seattle Times

Thirty-five years later, it is possible to see Micheaux as a central figure in American culture and, advertent or not, one of the great innovators in American cinema.

From New York Times

Related Words

• attentive
• discerning
• discriminating
• intelligent
• mindful
• perceptive
• vigilant

More About Advertent

What does advertent mean?

Advertent describes something or someone as attentive or heedful, as in Karine aced the test because she was advertent to all the professor’s lectures.

Not a very common term, advertent can generally be used to mean attentive, as in paying attention or thinking about something. Someone who is advertent about something is observing or considering their actions and their impact.

You’re more likely to see advertent with its more-common antonym, inadvertent. While it means inattentive or unheedful, inadvertent is most often used to mean unintentional. In this situation, advertent would be used to mean the opposite idea—that is, intentional. When something is done advertently, it means that it was done in order to reach a desired outcome.

Example: Theo lied about what he was doing Saturday night in an advertent to keep the surprise party a surprise.

Where does advertent come from?

The first records of the term advertent come from around the 1660s. It ultimately comes from the Latin advertere, meaning “to pay attention.”

Did you know ... ?

What are some other forms related to advertent?

• advertently (adverb)

What are some synonyms for advertent?

• observant
• discerning
• mindful
• attentive
• perceptive

What are some words that share a root or word element with advertent? 

• inadvertent
• inadvertently
• advertise
• advert

What are some words that often get used in discussing advertent?

• heed
• purpose
• control

How is advertent used in real life?

Infrequently used, advertent describes someone or something that is attentive or intentional.

That whistle was so advertent

— Fred Katz (@FredKatz) May 25, 2018

OR… Hear me out, people should mind their own business and not dictate how women should dress. Be it advertent or inadvertent, we have no right to make anyone uncomfortable on how they're dressed. https://t.co/klzI1L81ty

— Run It Back Tshepo!! (@Tshepo_XiX) February 18, 2022

Oh it was advertent. #settlersofcatan RT @MMazur83: @JeremyWGR did you just inadvertently reference boardgame creator Klaus Teuber??

— Jeremy White (@JeremyWGR) March 2, 2015

 

 

Try using advertent!

Which of the following is NOT a synonym for advertent?

A. attentive
B. purposeful
C. inattentive
D. observant