unintended

adjective

un·​in·​tend·​ed ˌən-in-ˈten-dəd How to pronounce unintended (audio)
: not planned as a purpose or goal : not deliberate or intended
an unintended consequence/effect
an unintended pregnancy

Examples of unintended in a Sentence

backyard digging that resulted in unintended damage to buried phone wires a response that yielded an unintended insight into her personal character
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Governance—technical, ethical and operational—is what determines whether AI delivers enduring value or creates unintended consequences. Nishant Satya Lakshmikanth, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2025 Analysts point to a concrete example to explain how U.S. tariffs can have unintended consequences: electric cars from China. Rafael Nam, NPR, 4 Aug. 2025 Critics argue the tax won’t benefit all people equally and could have unintended consequences. Charlotte Observer, 3 Aug. 2025 However, the spell has some unintended consequences and pulls in the other web-slingers and their villains from other dimensions. Jordan Moreau, Variety, 2 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for unintended

Word History

First Known Use

1649, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of unintended was in 1649

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Unintended.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unintended. Accessed 7 Aug. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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