by design

Idioms  

1. On purpose, deliberately, as in Whether by luck or by design, his application was accepted. This term, originally put as on design, uses design in the sense of “plan.” [First half of 1600s]

---

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

by design

"All incidents can be avoided, but the question is, are we ready to invest to make it happen? Cybersecurity is not cheap," he said, calling on manufacturers to make products that are secure "by design".

From Barron's ● Nov. 10, 2026

And it turns out that was by design rather than mistake.

From BBC ● Nov. 6, 2026

This is by design, as our progressive tax system has rungs with a top and a bottom, and different inputs — like the standard deduction — that affect how much tax people pay.

From MarketWatch ● Nov. 5, 2026

In another landmark case, a Los Angeles jury in March found that Instagram and YouTube were responsible for the suffering of a Chico, Calif., woman who charged the platforms were addictive by design.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 5, 2026

Though none of this was by design, it proved to be the best possible setting for those who had been imprisoned in Germany.

From "The Hiding Place" by Corrie ten Boom

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

---

Related Words

• consciously
• knowingly
• pointedly
• purposely
• studiously
• voluntarily
• willfully

---