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

• 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

Befriended by the aged proprietor of a now defunct Greek coast restaurant, the hen becomes an unwitting witness of human misery – greed, migrant trafficking, revenge upon revenge. —John Hopewell, Variety, 6 Sep. 2025

If instead the corporation digs in, further empowering the unwitting wreckers and saboteurs — well, bless their hearts. —Graham Hillard, The Washington Examiner, 5 Sep. 2025

Rayner claimed her mistake was unwitting and based on poor legal advice. —Max Foster, CNN Money, 5 Sep. 2025

Their heroic efforts to get product out the door, by focusing on resolving the crisis without addressing its underlying cause, created the conditions for new problems to emerge, turning the project managers into unwitting firefighting arsonists. —Nelson P. Repenning, Time, 5 Sep. 2025

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