adjective
inadvertent
in-uhd-VUR-tuhnt
Inadvertent (adjective) means not intended, and resulting from a failure to notice or pay attention. Example: “An inadvertent click sent the draft to the whole company.”
adjective
1
Not intended, and resulting from a failure to notice or pay attention.
"An inadvertent click sent the draft to the whole company."
"The omission was inadvertent and was corrected the same afternoon."
How to use inadvertent
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishDone by accident, because you were not paying attention.
When to use it
Formal; common in legal, corporate and apologetic writing.
Memory tip
The adverb inadvertently is far more common than the adjective: he inadvertently deleted the file.
Trace the full origin ↓
Easily confused with
Common pairings
inadvertent error
inadvertent disclosure
inadvertent omission
wholly inadvertent
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An _____ click sent the draft to the whole company.
Etymology
From Latin in-, 'not', and advertere, 'to turn the mind to'.
Synonyms
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Related words
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.
What is the meaning of inadvertent?
"inadvertent" (adjective) means not intended, and resulting from a failure to notice or pay attention.
