unwitting

adjective

un·​wit·​ting ˌən-ˈwi-tiŋ 

1

: not knowing : unaware

kept the truth from their unwitting friends

2

: not intended : inadvertent

an unwitting mistake

unwittingly

ˌən-ˈwi-tiŋ-lē 

adverb

Synonyms

• accidental
• casual
• chance
• fluky
• flukey
• fortuitous
• inadvertent
• incidental
• unintended
• unintentional
• unplanned
• unpremeditated

Examples of unwitting in a Sentence

He kept the truth from his unwitting friends.

an unwitting victim of fraud

Recent Examples on the Web

Our premature ideas around consciousness and suffering are what drive Metzinger to call for a global moratorium on research that flies too close to the unwitting creation of new consciousnesses. —Oshan Jarow, Vox, 15 June 2024

The Brat Packers became unwitting role models for me. —Jeanne Bonner, CNN, 13 June 2024

The movie is at times an unwitting reminder of how genocide is approved, structured historically, and softened for the white populace. —Angelica Jade Bastién, Vulture, 12 Jan. 2024

This could improve the ability of propagandists to persuade unwitting voters, overwhelm online information environments, and personalize phishing emails. —Josh A. Goldstein, Foreign Affairs, 7 Apr. 2023

Word History

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

unwitting

adjective

un·​wit·​ting ˌən-ˈwit-iŋ 

ˈən-

1

: not intended : inadvertent

an unwitting mistake

2

: not knowing : unaware

unwittingly adverb