unwitting
adjective
un·wit·ting
ˌən-ˈwi-tiŋ 
1
: not knowing : unaware
kept the truth from their unwitting friends
2
: not intended : inadvertent
an unwitting mistake
Examples of unwitting in a Sentence
He kept the truth from his unwitting friends.
an unwitting victim of fraud
Recent Examples on the Web
That is the unhinged (complimentary) premise of Thomas Elrod’s debut, in which the fictional cult-classic epic fantasy Malicarn series is staged on an island with unwitting actors temporarily imprinted with the characters’ backstories.
—
Literary Hub, 1 May 2026
During back-to-back hearings in Brooklyn federal court, Jones entered guilty pleas to two counts of conspiracy to commit wire fraud for his role in schemes to defraud major sportsbooks, including DraftKings and FanDuel, and filch millions of dollars from unwitting poker players.
—Michael R. Sisak, Chicago Tribune, 28 Apr. 2026
And his vision of bachata brought the genre boldly into the present, and also set an unwitting template for how Spanish-language music could firm-footedly interface with pop’s other streams, arguably laying the groundwork for Latin megastars like Bad Bunny.
—New York Times, 28 Apr. 2026
Dogs and outdoor cats are acting as unwitting vehicles for an Australian flatworm species called Caenoplana variegata, carrying it between gardens and neighborhoods on their fur.
—Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 9 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for unwitting
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Literary Hub, 1 May 2026
During back-to-back hearings in Brooklyn federal court, Jones entered guilty pleas to two counts of conspiracy to commit wire fraud for his role in schemes to defraud major sportsbooks, including DraftKings and FanDuel, and filch millions of dollars from unwitting poker players.
—Michael R. Sisak, Chicago Tribune, 28 Apr. 2026
And his vision of bachata brought the genre boldly into the present, and also set an unwitting template for how Spanish-language music could firm-footedly interface with pop’s other streams, arguably laying the groundwork for Latin megastars like Bad Bunny.
—New York Times, 28 Apr. 2026
Dogs and outdoor cats are acting as unwitting vehicles for an Australian flatworm species called Caenoplana variegata, carrying it between gardens and neighborhoods on their fur.
—Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 9 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for unwitting
Cite this Entry
“Unwitting.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unwitting. Accessed 6 May. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
unwitting
adjective
un·wit·ting
ˌən-ˈwit-iŋ
ˈən-
1
: not intended : inadvertent
an unwitting mistake
2
: not knowing : unaware
unwittingly
adverb
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