unwittingly

[uhn-wit-ing-lee]

adverb

1. without meaning to; unintentionally.

   Users who visit infected websites could unwittingly download malware that steals information in their computers.

2. through ignorance; through lack of knowledge or awareness.

   A number of women have been unwittingly lured into this scheme by being told they were working on a very important project.

Word History and Origins

Origin of unwittingly¹

unwitting ( def. ) + -ly

Example Sentences

Those who purchase cheap goods from online sites are unwittingly facilitating this crime and we would urge them to consider this.''

From BBC

"Their new employer is then in breach of international sanctions by unwittingly paying a North Korean."

From BBC

On this late July morning at Studio 1 Culver, Tap begins its promotional duties for the long-awaited sequel to 1984’s “This Is Spinal Tap,” the documentary that unwittingly revitalized the pioneering metal group’s career.

From Los Angeles Times

To optimize space, he proposed a bold new concept — circular office buildings — unwittingly foreshadowing what would later become his most iconic project.

From Los Angeles Times

Harry unwittingly intercepts a call at a phone booth, and the caller tells him nuclear missiles will strike Los Angeles within the hour.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• accidentally 
• unintentionally