inadvertent
Americanadjective
-
unintentional.
an inadvertent insult.
-
not attentive; heedless.
- Synonyms:
- inattentive
-
of, relating to, or characterized by lack of attention.
- Synonyms:
- negligent, careless, thoughtless
adjective
-
failing to act carefully or considerately; inattentive
-
resulting from heedless action; unintentional
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of inadvertent
First recorded in 1645–55; abstracted from inadvertence, inadvertency
Explanation
When something happens by accident, it's inadvertent, or unintentional. The gas company assured you that the error in your bill was inadvertent and that they would fix it, but not before you blew off some steam. If you break down the adjective inadvertent you find the word vert, from the Latin vertere, meaning "to turn." Advertent comes to mean "turning the mind to," and as the prefix in- means "not," inadvertent means “not turning the mind to,” or "not intending to." When your actions are inadvertent you're not paying attention to their consequences. Remember that inadvertent ends with -ent by remembering this sentence: “We inadvertently ripped the tent.”
Vocabulary lists containing inadvertent
Things Fall Apart
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Commonly Misspelled Words, List 2
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This Week in Words: April 20–26, 2019
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
In an interview with BBC Newsnight, Polanski repeatedly refused to apologise for "an inadvertent mistake" but acknowledged he needed to "be better on social media".
From BBC ● Jul. 30, 2026
It’s amusing to me that Haim’s signature walk was an inadvertent invention.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 18, 2026
Other cinematic companions are inadvertent and more thoughtful, woven together like the harmonies of a duet.
From Salon ● May 25, 2026
Musk has said that his filing delay was inadvertent and that he submitted his disclosure on the business day after his wealth manager consulted legal counsel about potential filing requirements.
From MarketWatch ● May 4, 2026
Even we humans have achieved the dubious technical dis- tinction of being able to make our own disasters, both intentional and inadvertent.
From "Cosmos" by Carl Sagan
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
