unintentional

adjective

un·​in·​ten·​tion·​al

ˌən-in-ˈten(t)-sh(ə-)nəl

 

: not done by intention or design : not intentional

an unintentional effect

causing unintentional harm/offense

unintentionally adverb

an unintentionally offensive remark

Synonyms

• accidental

Examples of unintentional in a Sentence

an unintentional encounter with an old classmate at the mall

an unintentional insult that nevertheless was very hurtful

Recent Examples on the Web

This unintentional genesis has become one of Camp VC’s greatest strengths. —Afdhel Aziz, Forbes.com, 5 Aug. 2025

Consumption of the liquid in these cans will result in unintentional alcohol ingestion. —Emma Marsden, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Aug. 2025

There are over 4,000 unintentional drowning deaths in the U.S. every year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. —Emily Shapiro, ABC News, 28 July 2025

The warnings were issued in the top of the fifth, after Cardinals starter Matthew Liberatore led off the inning by hitting Machado in apparent response to what Padres starter Randy Vásquez described as an unintentional, fourth-inning plunking of Cardinals first baseman Willson Contreras. —Dennis Lin, New York Times, 27 July 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1782, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for unintentional

• interventional
• nonconventional
• nondimensional
• unconventional
• attentional
• conventional
• dimensional
• extensional
• intensional
• intentional
• multidimensional
• unidimensional