# inadvertent

/ˌɪnædˈvɝtənt/ (US) · /ɪnɐdvˈɜːtənt/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Adjective

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/inadvertent
Updated: 2026-05-26

## Definition

done by accident or without meaning to. You use this to describe something that happens because you were not paying attention.

For teachers: done or occurring without intention or without being noticed. Often used in legal or formal contexts to describe unintentional errors or omissions.

## Examples

- The mistake was inadvertent and easily corrected.
- The lawyer argued that the evidence was discovered through an inadvertent error in the filing process.
- While the breach of protocol was inadvertent, the committee still felt it necessary to issue a formal apology to the affected guests.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.