unintended

adjective

un·​in·​tend·​ed ˌən-in-ˈten-dəd 

: not planned as a purpose or goal : not deliberate or intended

an unintended consequence/effect

an unintended pregnancy

Synonyms

• accidental

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

In the Adams formulation, the true history was about chance, contingency, and unintended consequences, about political leaders who were all improvising on the edge of catastrophe. —Literary Hub, 28 Oct. 2025

In the end, 65 languages were tested, three native speakers for each, to ensure no unintended meanings slipped through. —Anthony Shore, Fortune, 26 Oct. 2025

As private companies race to make spaceflight routine, Earth’s upper atmosphere has become an unintended testing ground. —New Atlas, 25 Oct. 2025

And then the unintended consequences hurt kids that are trying to do it the right way with a process, not jumping around. —Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 22 Oct. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1649, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for unintended

• apprehended
• comprehended
• condescended
• recommended
• resuspended
• unamended
• unattended
• undefended
• undescended
• unexpended
• amended
• appended