unintended

adjective

un·​in·​tend·​ed ˌən-in-ˈten-dəd How to pronounce unintended (audio)
: not planned as a purpose or goal : not deliberate or intended
an unintended consequence/effect
an unintended pregnancy

Examples of unintended in a Sentence

backyard digging that resulted in unintended damage to buried phone wires a response that yielded an unintended insight into her personal character
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
But their unintended consequences threatened the atmospheric system that makes complex life possible on Earth. Cornelia C. Walther, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025 But clearing the smellscape may have unintended consequences. Franklin Schneider, The Atlantic, 16 Sep. 2025 But some warn such acts can have unintended consequences. Sydney Barragan, Oc Register, 13 Sep. 2025 Advertisement These trends had their unintended effects too. Belinda Luscombe, Time, 5 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for unintended

Word History

First Known Use

1649, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of unintended was in 1649

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Unintended.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unintended. Accessed 22 Sep. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!