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.
To avoid such unintended consequences, effective community planning and meaningful public input must be priorities before permitting rapid development. Phillip Molnar, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 June 2025 Receiving a sizable gift, if not structured properly, can have unintended consequences that may upend your financial situation or cause friction between family members. Medora Lee, USA Today, 27 June 2025 In the event the playoff cap has unintended consequences, the NHL and NHLPA have the right to reopen the agreement on this issue. Pierre Lebrun, New York Times, 27 June 2025 Ensuring accountability requires robust governance frameworks like the OECD AI Principles. Safety And Control Autonomous systems must be designed with fail-safes to prevent unintended consequences. Daniel Keller, Forbes.com, 26 June 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 5 Jul. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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