inadvertent
5 synonyms and 3 antonyms for inadvertent, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Adjective — Not intended, and resulting from a failure to notice or pay attention.
Synonyms
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Antonyms
How to use inadvertent
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
inadvertent error
inadvertent disclosure
inadvertent omission
wholly inadvertent
Formal; common in legal, corporate and apologetic writing.
Etymology
From Latin in-, 'not', and advertere, 'to turn the mind to'.
Full origin of inadvertent →Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between inadvertent and accidental?
Accidental covers anything unplanned, including events with no human cause at all. Inadvertent points specifically to a lapse of attention by a person, which is why forms and legal notices prefer it for mistakes such as an inadvertent disclosure. A falling branch is accidental, not inadvertent.
Is an inadvertent mistake still someone's fault?
Often, yes. Calling something inadvertent says it was not intended, but it does not say the person took reasonable care. In law, an inadvertent act can still be negligent if a careful person would have avoided it.
How do you use inadvertently in a sentence?
Place it before the verb describing the unintended act: 'She inadvertently copied the client on the reply.' It signals that the action happened through oversight rather than choice.
