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 of unintentional

• 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

Chemotherapy and radiation bring unintentional casualties, killing both good and bad fast-dividing cells. — Michelle Marchante, Miami Herald, 16 July 2026

Your doctor will also ask you about potential red flags that something more serious may be going on, such as red or black stool or unintentional weight loss. — Sarah Klein, Time, 10 July 2026

Cook Children’s Health Care System treated 121 unintentional gun injuries in children from October 2023 to September 2025, with five of those injuries proving fatal. — Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 July 2026

Between 15,000 and 22,000 Americans died each year from unintentional injuries at work, home and in transportation, per NCHS. — Melissa Rudy, FOXNews.com, 3 July 2026

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