# unintentional

/ˌənɪnˈtɛnʃənəɫ/ (US) · /ˌʌnɪntˈɛnʃənəl/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Adjective

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/unintentional
Updated: 2026-05-08

## Definition

done or happening by accident, not because you planned it. You use this to describe mistakes or surprises that you did not mean to cause.

For teachers: not done with purpose or intent; occurring without deliberate planning. Often used to qualify negative outcomes or errors to mitigate blame.

## Examples

- I am sorry for the unintentional mistake on the report.
- The comedian's joke caused some unintentional offense among the audience members who took it literally.
- While the policy change was designed to improve efficiency, it had the unintentional consequence of alienating the company's most loyal long-term clients.

## Usage notes

- Typically used attributively before a noun; often paired with words like 'mistake', 'harm', or 'consequence'.

---

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.