ENGLISH
REFERENCE

intentional

adj.
B2 Upper Intermediate US //ˌɪnˈtɛnʃənəɫ// UK //ɪntˈɛnʃənəl// in·ten·tion·al Archaic

adj. done on purpose rather than by accident. You use this when someone planned an action and meant for it to happen.

adj. done on purpose; deliberate. Often used to distinguish between accidental harm and premeditated actions in legal or ethical contexts.


SIMPLE

The mistake was not intentional.

CONTEXTUAL

The referee decided the foul was intentional and gave the player a red card.

COMPLEX

While the outcome was disastrous, the defense argued that the defendant's actions were not intentional, but rather the result of a series of unfortunate mechanical failures.

Synonyms
Antonyms
Origin

Borrowed from Medieval Latin intentiōnālis. By surface analysis, intention + -al.

Usage

Commonly used as an attributive adjective before a noun or as a predicative adjective after a linking verb.

Pitfall

He did it intentional.He did it intentionally.Learners often use the adjective form when an adverb is required to modify a verb.

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