unwittingly

IPA/ʌnˈwɪtɪŋli/
KK[ənwˈɪtɪŋli]IPA/ʌnˈwɪtɪŋli/

unwittingly — adverb

1. used to describe an action done without the person intending it or realising wha

1.adverbB2
Definition

used to describe an action done without the person intending it or realising what they are doing — for instance, saying something hurtful without knowing it would be upsetting.

Example

Marco unwittingly offended his colleague by making a joke about her accent.

adverb + past-tense verb — unintended social action

The Watanabe family unwittingly became involved in the argument when they tried to help.

Common collocations
  • unwittingly offend
  • unwittingly reveal
  • unwittingly become
  • unwittingly cause
Synonyms
  • inadvertently

    more formal; stresses lack of attention rather than lack of knowledge

  • unknowingly

    focuses on not having the relevant information

  • accidentally

    broader; covers both unintended physical events and social mistakes

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

unwittingly + verb (describing unintended action)

Usage Note

The adverb stresses that the action was not deliberate, though the person who acted may be held responsible for the outcome. Avoid using it for purely mechanical accidents (use 'accidentally' instead) — unwittingly implies a lack of awareness rather than a loss of control.

Common Mistakes

She unwittingly tripped over the rug.
She accidentally tripped over the rug.
'unwittingly' is about lack of awareness or intention, not about losing physical balance.

unwittingly — adjective

Word family

  • unwitting
    adjectiveB2
  • wittingly
    adverbC1
  • witting
    adjectiveC1
  • wit
    nounB2

Synonym discussion

Sense: adverb/1

All four words describe actions that happen without intention, but they differ in what they emphasise. Unwittingly highlights a lack of awareness: the person does not realise what they are doing or what they are involved in. Inadvertently is more formal and often suggests a lack of attention rather than a lack of knowledge — you do something inadvertently because you are not paying close enough attention. Unknowingly stresses that the person lacks the relevant information; it is a good choice when someone acts based on incomplete knowledge. Accidentally is the broadest word and covers everything from physical mishaps (tripping, dropping) to social mistakes, without the nuance of awareness. For example: 'She unwittingly revealed a secret (she didn't know it was a secret).' 'She accidentally knocked over a cup (a physical event, not about awareness).'

unwittingly ↗inadvertently ↗unknowingly ↗accidentally ↗

Etymology

Old EnglishEnglish

Formed from the prefix 'un-' (meaning 'not'), the adjective 'witting' (meaning 'knowing', from Old English 'witan' — to know), and the adverb suffix '-ly'. The word entered English in the late 1500s. 'Wit' in its older sense meant 'knowledge' or 'understanding', a meaning that survives today mainly in the phrase 'to wit' and in the word 'witness'.

First known use

12th century

12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1