unintentionally

[ uhn-in-ten-shuh-nl-ee ]

adverb

1. not deliberately or on purpose:

   Properly restricting file sharing will help the user avoid unintentionally granting access to unknown parties.

Word History and Origins

Origin of unintentionally¹

unintentional ( def ) + -ly

Example Sentences

Some unintentionally gave HIV to their partners.

From BBC

But he cautioned about the risk of some bombs or missiles going off target and hitting the ruins, even unintentionally: "If you drop enough ordnance, not all of that lands within 25 metres of the target."

From BBC

Wayward farm girl Dorothy Gale has dropped into Oz by unintentionally but rather precisely dropping a house on the witch, freeing the colorful clan of Munchkins from the tyrannical scourge of a witch who took pleasure in bending them to her will.

From Salon

Fogel, the former federal judge, said most judges want to decide cases fairly and apply Bruen correctly, but the test provides too many opportunities for them to inject their implicit assumptions or biases, even unintentionally.

From Slate

I Am Not Okay showed the children displaying extremely distressed behaviour that often led to them unintentionally hurting themselves or others.

From BBC

Related Words

• accidentally
• inadvertently
• involuntarily