unintentional
UK: ˌʌnɪnˈtenʃənl | US: ˌʌnɪnˈtenʃənl
adj. not done on purpose; accidental
adj. lacking deliberate intent or awareness
The word "unintentional" is built from the prefix "un-" (meaning "not"), the root "intent" (from Latin "intendere," meaning "to aim or purpose"), the noun-forming suffix "-ion," and the adjective-forming suffix "-al." The progression reflects a logical negation: "intent" (purpose) → "intention" (the act of purposing) → "unintentional" (lacking purpose). The word emerged in the early 17th century, aligning with the development of English legal and philosophical vocabulary to describe actions without deliberate will.
The damage was unintentional, caused by a system error.
She gave an unintentional insult by mispronouncing his name.
His unintentional humor made everyone laugh.
The study focused on both intentional and unintentional biases.
Unintentional plagiarism can still have serious consequences.