unwitting

adjective

un·​wit·​ting ˌən-ˈwi-tiŋ 

1

: not knowing : unaware

kept the truth from their unwitting friends

2

: not intended : inadvertent

an unwitting mistake

unwittingly

ˌən-ˈwi-tiŋ-lē 

adverb

Synonyms of unwitting

• accidental
• inadvertent

Examples of unwitting in a Sentence

He kept the truth from his unwitting friends.

an unwitting victim of fraud

Recent Examples on the Web

And then there is Kerkering, an unwitting symbol for all of this. — Matt Gelb, New York Times, 1 Aug. 2026

One focuses on Ted as a teenage prodigy attending Harvard in the 1950s who becomes the unwitting victim of abusive experiments by his psychology professor, Henry Murray (Russell Crowe). — Brian Truitt, USA Today, 29 July 2026

Most recently, the meme-stock mania during the Covid-19 pandemic led many unwitting investors to make rash financial decisions. — David Capablanca, Forbes.com, 27 July 2026

The ordeal pulled the unwitting Rowley into a battle between Russian and British intelligence agencies. — Faith Karimi, CNN Money, 11 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for unwitting

• acquitting
• admitting
• befitting
• committing
• emitting
• omitting
• outfitting
• outwitting
• permitting
• refitting
• remitting
• submitting

Kids Definition

unwitting

adjective

un·​wit·​ting ˌən-ˈwit-iŋ 

ˈən-

1

: not intended : inadvertent

an unwitting mistake

2

: not knowing : unaware

unwittingly adverb