# unwitting

/ənˈwɪtɪŋ/ (US) · /ʌnwˈɪtɪŋ/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Adjective

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/unwitting
Updated: 2026-10-15

## Definition

not knowing that you are part of something, often something wrong or secret. You do it by accident, without planning or meaning to.

For teachers: unaware of the full facts of a situation, especially one's own involvement in it. Often describes a person, action, or error that is unintentional rather than deliberate.

## Examples

- He becomes an unwitting helper in their plan.
- She was an unwitting carrier of the virus, showing no symptoms while passing it to others.
- The retired clerk became the unwitting guardian of letters that would later rewrite the town's understanding of its wartime past.

## Synonyms

unaware, unintentional, accidental, unintended, unknowing

## Antonyms

knowing, aware, intentional, deliberate

## Usage notes

- Typically placed before the noun it modifies.

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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.