What does inadvertent mean?
Word: Inadvertent
Part of Speech: Adjective
Meaning: Inadvertent means done by accident, without anyone meaning to do it.
Synonyms: unintended
Antonyms: intentional
How do you spell inadvertent?
Syllables: in - ad - vert - ent
Tricky part: The ending is ent, not ant. The last vowel is hardly heard, so inadvertant is the usual slip.
Watch out for: inadvertant, inadvertint
Memory tip: An accidental knock can leave a dent, and this word closes with the same three letters.
Inadvertent in a sentence
Example 1: Her inadvertent smile gave away the surprise party.
Example 2: The builders made an inadvertent change to the plan when they copied it.
Example 3: An inadvertent omission of one name was corrected in the next newsletter.
Fun Fact
Its Latin root means 'to turn towards'. Something inadvertent happens when your attention has not been turned to it, and the same root gave English its word for notices that try to catch your eye.
Practise the CREST Way
Word Cookie
Find the misspelt word in the sentence:
The captain's inadvirtent remark at the team meeting made everybody laugh, even the coach who had travelled through the night to reach us.
a) inadvirtent
b) meeting
c) remark
d) travelled
Show answer
a) inadvirtent. The vowel after the v is e, not i.
Mingle-Mangle
The sentence contains a jumbled word. Choose the word it hides:
An eedattvrinn slip of the finger sent the message to the whole class group.
a) inadvertent
b) inadequate
c) indifferent
d) inconvenient
Show answer
a) inadvertent. Two t's are in the jumble, and only one option has a second t.
Word Connection
Choose the antonym of the word inadvertent as used in the sentence:
The spelling slip in the headline was an inadvertent error by a tired editor.
a) careless
b) innocent
c) deliberate
d) unplanned
Show answer
c) deliberate. An error made on purpose is the opposite of this one.
Spell-o-Spell
Three of these words are spelt correctly. Choose the meaning of the misspelt word.
1. negligense 2. inadvertent 3. oversight 4. coincidence
a) not meant by anyone
b) two things happening together by chance
c) a failure to take proper care
d) a mistake made by not noticing something
Show answer
c) a failure to take proper care. Negligence has a c before the final e.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. What would count as an inadvertent act?
a) saving money for a new bicycle
b) practising the violin before dinner
c) pressing the wrong lift button while chatting
d) choosing a birthday book for a friend
Show answer
c) pressing the wrong lift button while chatting
2. After an inadvertent error, what would a polite person most likely say?
a) I planned it for many weeks.
b) I did that for a good reason.
c) Sorry, I did not mean that.
d) I would gladly do it again.
Show answer
c) Sorry, I did not mean that.
