# unwittingly

/ənˈwɪtɪŋɫi/ (US) · /ʌnwˈɪtɪŋli/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Adverb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/unwittingly
Updated: 2026-05-09

## Definition

doing something without realizing it or without meaning to. You use this when someone causes a result they did not plan.

For teachers: without awareness or intention; inadvertently. Often describes an action that leads to an unforeseen or undesirable consequence.

## Examples

- She unwittingly gave away the secret.
- By clicking the suspicious link, the employee unwittingly allowed malware to infect the entire office network.
- The biographer unwittingly included several anecdotes that were later proven to be fabrications, damaging the book's reputation for historical accuracy.

## Pitfalls

- Not "He did it unwittinglyly" but "He did it unwittingly" — Learners sometimes add an extra 'ly' to adverbs that already end in 'ly' as part of their root or suffix structure.

## Usage notes

- Typically placed before the verb it modifies or at the end of a clause.

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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.