# intentional

/ˌɪnˈtɛnʃənəɫ/ (US) · /ɪntˈɛnʃənəl/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/intentional
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. done on purpose

adjective · CEFR B2

done on purpose and not by accident.

For teachers: done with intention or design; deliberate rather than accidental.

- I am sure his rude comment was intentional and not just a mistake.
- The defense argued that while the damage was extensive, it was not intentional but rather the result of systemic mechanical failure.

Usage: Usually precedes the noun it modifies.

### 2. legal/philosophical intent

adjective · CEFR C1 · Formal · Technical

showing a clear plan or aim in a formal or legal way.

For teachers: relating to or characterized by conscious intent; in legal contexts, referring to an act committed with a specific mental state.

- The lawyer had to prove that the person's actions were intentional.
- The court must determine whether the defendant's interference with the contract was intentional or merely a byproduct of their own business interests.

Usage: Often appears in phrases like 'intentional tort' or 'intentional harm'.

Teaching tip: In legal English, this word is used to separate acts of will from acts of negligence.

## Examples

- The mistake was not intentional.
- The referee decided the foul was intentional and gave the player a red card.
- 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.

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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.