unplanned

adjective

un·​planned ˌən-ˈpland 

: not expected or intended : not planned

an unplanned detour

an unplanned pregnancy

Synonyms of unplanned

• accidental
• unexpected

Examples of unplanned in a Sentence

an unplanned change in our itinerary—we got lost!

stumbled through a completely unplanned acceptance speech

Recent Examples on the Web

Councilwoman Sarah Parady announced the cost associated with those layoffs Monday during a council discussion of a proposal to use nearly $14 million in contingency fund dollars to address unplanned budget needs this year. —Elliott Wenzler, Denver Post, 3 Dec. 2025

Hope intends to use the funds to help employees who were affected by the business’s unplanned closure and fund any portions of the reconstruction that are not covered by insurance. —Nollyanne Delacruz, Mercury News, 3 Dec. 2025

Coldplaygate The year’s most astonishing, unplanned visual gag involved a married (but not to each other) pair of tech executives caught embracing on a Kiss Cam at a Coldplay concert. —Ian Crouch, New Yorker, 28 Nov. 2025

With a prolonged illness comes a lot of unplanned expenses. —Fousia Abdullahi, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 26 Nov. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1775, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for unplanned

• ampersand
• beforehand
• behindhand
• bottomland
• contraband
• countermand
• dixieland
• fairyland
• fatherland
• firebrand
• hinterland
• motherland