unwitting

American  

[uhn-wit-ing] / ʌnˈwɪt ɪŋ /

adjective

1. not intentional or deliberate; inadvertent; accidental.

   His insult, though unwitting, pained her.

2. not knowing; unaware; ignorant; oblivious; unconscious.

   an unwitting person.

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unwitting British  

/ ʌnˈwɪtɪŋ /

adjective

1. not knowing or conscious

2. not intentional; inadvertent

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Other Word Forms

• unwittingly adverb
• unwittingness noun

Etymology

Origin of unwitting

First recorded before 900; Middle English; Old English unwittende; un- ¹, wit ², -ing ²

Example Sentences

Now unwitting spectators are yelling fault, filing noise complaints and petitions to curb playing hours that have left authorities in a pickle.

From Barron's

Experts say similar AI tools are being used to create deepfake audio and video of corporate executives to try to pry information out of unwitting employees.

From The Wall Street Journal

Oddly, that cigar turned out to be an unwitting premonition.

From The Wall Street Journal

His directness took her by surprise, as did his unwitting use of the Swanburne motto.

From Literature

One of the haulage firms was then hired as a subcontractor by an unwitting UK transport company.

From BBC

Related Words

• forgetful
• inadvertent
• uninformed
• unsuspecting