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inadvertently

adverb

/ˌɪnədˈvəːt(ə)ntli/

IPA:

Dictionary definition of inadvertently

Occurring unintentionally or accidentally, often without prior awareness or deliberate intent.
"The employee inadvertently deleted important files."

Detailed meaning of inadvertently

It is often used to describe actions or events that happen without intention or without the person being aware of it. For example, one might say that someone inadvertently left their keys in the car, meaning that they did not intend to leave them there and were not aware that they had done so. Similarly, one might say that someone inadvertently offended someone else, meaning that they did not intend to cause offense and were not aware that their actions or words would be taken that way. Inadvertently can also be used to describe something that happens without planning or forethought, such as a mistake made in a speech or a slip of the tongue. In general, inadvertently means to do something unintentionally or by accident, often refers to actions or events that happen without intention or without the person being aware of it.

Example sentences containing inadvertently

1. He inadvertently broke the vase while cleaning.
2. They inadvertently left the restaurant without paying the bill.
3. She inadvertently revealed the secret during the conversation.
4. The child inadvertently caused a mess while playing.
5. The driver inadvertently ran a red light.
6. The email was sent inadvertently to the wrong recipient.

History and etymology of inadvertently

The adverb 'inadvertently' has its etymological roots in Latin and Middle English. It is formed from the Latin word 'in,' meaning 'not' or 'un-' and the word 'advertentia,' which means 'attention' or 'awareness.' In Middle English, 'inadvertently' was used to describe actions or events that happened without prior awareness or deliberate intent. Today, it signifies that something has occurred unintentionally or accidentally, often as a result of not paying close attention or being unaware of the potential consequences. 'Inadvertently' suggests that the action or outcome was not planned or foreseen and may have occurred due to a lack of vigilance or mindfulness.

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Further usage examples of inadvertently

1. The mistake was made inadvertently, without intention.
2. The information was shared inadvertently, without proper authorization.
3. The team inadvertently scored an own goal.
4. The speaker inadvertently offended the audience with their remarks.
5. The company inadvertently violated the privacy policy.
6. The scientist inadvertently discovered a new phenomenon during their experiments.
7. He inadvertently spilled coffee on his shirt while rushing to catch the bus.
8. She inadvertently deleted an important email while trying to organize her inbox.
9. The child inadvertently broke the vase while playing with a ball indoors.
10. He inadvertently left his wallet at the restaurant, only realizing it later.
11. She inadvertently bumped into someone on the crowded street, apologizing immediately.
12. The driver inadvertently took the wrong turn and ended up in an unfamiliar neighborhood.
13. He inadvertently offended his friend with a thoughtless comment.
14. She inadvertently left her phone behind at the coffee shop.
15. The hiker inadvertently wandered off the trail and got lost in the woods.
16. He inadvertently locked himself out of his apartment by leaving the keys inside.
17. She inadvertently spoiled the surprise by mentioning the gift before the party.
18. The student inadvertently submitted the wrong assignment to the teacher.
19. He inadvertently stepped on his cat's tail, causing it to hiss and run away.
20. She inadvertently clicked on a spam email, triggering a computer virus.
21. The chef inadvertently added too much salt to the dish, making it overly seasoned.
22. He inadvertently interrupted their conversation by walking into the room at the wrong time.
23. She inadvertently left the oven on overnight, realizing her mistake in the morning.
24. The employee inadvertently shared confidential information with a colleague.
25. He inadvertently missed his flight because he misread the departure time.
26. She inadvertently sent a text message to the wrong person, creating an awkward situation.