unwitting

adjective

un·​wit·​ting ˌən-ˈwi-tiŋ How to pronounce unwitting (audio)
1
: not knowing : unaware
kept the truth from their unwitting friends
2
: not intended : inadvertent
an unwitting mistake
unwittingly adverb

Examples of unwitting in a Sentence

He kept the truth from his unwitting friends. an unwitting victim of fraud
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.
In 2018, the veteran sommelier and wine director became an unwitting casualty of an explosive cheating scandal within the Court of Master Sommeliers, the nonprofit organization that administers the elite exam. Anna Lee Iijima, Chicago Tribune, 18 Mar. 2025 But even intermittent use, or unwitting use through contamination, poses a high risk of death. Doug Smith, Los Angeles Times, 27 Feb. 2025 That led to sharp credit score drops for many unwitting borrowers. Shahar Ziv, Forbes, 7 Mar. 2025 But hidden dangers lurk in each of these sanctuaries — treacherous storms, slippery rock faces and swift river currents all lie in wait for the unwitting, unprepared or unlucky explorer. Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 7 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for unwitting

Word History

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of unwitting was before the 12th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Unwitting.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unwitting. Accessed 29 Mar. 2025.

Kids Definition

unwitting

adjective
un·​wit·​ting ˌən-ˈwit-iŋ How to pronounce unwitting (audio)
ˈən-
1
: not intended : inadvertent
an unwitting mistake
2
: not knowing : unaware
unwittingly adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on unwitting

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!