Unintended - Definition, Meaning, and Examples in English

Definition

^{Context #1 | Adjective}

accidental

Not planned or meant; happening without deliberate intent.

Synonyms

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
unintended	Situations where something occurs without being planned or desired, often used in legal or formal contexts. The unintended consequences of the new law were significant Despite their best efforts, the project had some unintended side effects
accidental	Situations where something happens by chance, often involving mishaps or minor incidents. He spilled the coffee by accidental The discovery of penicillin was accidental
unplanned	Situations where something happens without being previously arranged or prepared, often used in casual or conversational contexts. Our meeting was completely unplanned The unplanned trip turned out to be a wonderful adventure
inadvertent	Occurrences that happen due to lack of attention or care, often used in formal or technical language. Her harsh comment was inadvertent The error was the result of inadvertent oversight

Examples of usage

He made an unintended mistake by sending the email to the wrong recipient.
The unintended consequences of the new policy led to a decrease in employee morale.

Interesting Facts

Psychology

In behavioral psychology, unintended consequences can arise from actions due to the unpredictability of human behavior.
Studies show that people often overlook unintended effects when making decisions, leading to poor choices.
The concept of cognitive dissonance is closely related, where one's actions lead to outcomes that conflict with their desires or intentions.

Pop Culture

Many movies and shows rely on unintended consequences as a comedic or dramatic element, creating tension or humor.
A famous example is in the movie 'Butterfly Effect,' where small actions lead to large, unintended outcomes in the future.
In literature, protagonists often face unintended outcomes from their decisions, driving the plot and character development.

Education

In learning environments, unintended learning refers to skills or knowledge gained inadvertently, often overshadowing planned objectives.
Teachers are often reminded to consider unintended effects of their methods on student behavior and understanding.
Curriculums may be designed to shape outcomes, yet unforeseen developments can emerge based on student interactions and interests.

Science

In scientific research, unintended discoveries, like penicillin, often lead to major breakthroughs.
The law of unintended consequences highlights that actions in complex systems can yield unexpected results, especially in ecology and economics.
Often in experiments, researchers must account for unintended variables that can affect the outcome of their studies.

Origin of 'unintended'

Main points about word origin

The word 'unintended' comes from the prefix 'un-' meaning 'not' and 'intended,' which means planned or meant to happen.
In English, the suffix '-ed' indicates an action is completed. Here, it shows something that was not planned has happened.
The concept behind this word reflects a longstanding human experience of actions leading to unexpected outcomes.

The word 'unintended' originated from the combination of the prefix 'un-' meaning 'not' and the past participle of the verb 'intend.' It first appeared in the English language in the late 16th century. The concept of unintended consequences has been studied in various fields such as economics, sociology, and psychology.

Word Frequency Rank

With rank #15,504, this word belongs to specialized vocabulary. While not common in everyday speech, it enriches your ability to express complex ideas.

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15501 achievable
15502 blaming
15503 epileptic
15504 unintended
15505 contemptuous
15506 crowning
15507 invalidity
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Unintended Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations