unknowingly

USAGE SUMMARY

'unknowingly' is a correct and usable word in written English.
It is an adverb used to describe an action that is done without being aware of the consequences or implications. For example, "The volunteer unknowingly spread misinformation about the election results."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

We particularly want to promote this campaign to the law-abiding British expat community in Spain, some of whom may unknowingly be living next door to a wanted criminal".

The Guardian

He joins many others who in recent years have complained that they have unknowingly clicked into Amazon Prime, some finding out only years later that money had been taken from their debit or credit card annually for the subscription payment.

The Guardian - Money

Colleges would be banned from sponsoring visa applications if applicants promoted extremist views, and would face consequences for "knowingly or unknowingly" hosting extremist speakers without challenging their views, according to the plans.

The Guardian

Dr Venkatesh and Dr Becker asked themselves if it would be a good idea for the government of India to try, at regular intervals, to test the country's population for HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, in order to treat those who unknowingly harbour it.

The Economist

Indeed, during the debate over the shape of buckytubes, many scientists had unknowingly seen carbon nanotubes.

The Economist

A person with a Bluetooth-equipped PDA could walk through Grand Central Station and unknowingly join and quit dozens of ad hoc networks between street and platform.

The Economist

(The idea was unknowingly mocked by Google Australia in an April fool hoax in 2009; Catapult insists that the device had already been in the works by then indeed, the company was understandably nervous that the jape might inadvertently scupper the device's commercial prospects).

The Economist

How might your choice of browser affect your job prospects?When choosing among job applicants, employers may be swayed by a range of factors, knowingly and unknowingly.

The Economist

The location database on the company's servers has been built up over the past year using "anonymous, crowd-sourced information" as millions of iPhone and iPad users unknowingly synched (via iTunes) the location details of cell towers and WiFi hotspots they had come in contact with.

The Economist

General Abubakar's refusal to take political jobs in the past, and his pledge this week that he will stick to the October 1st deadline for handing over power to a civilian government, suggest that he agrees with them.The reprehensible Abacha has unknowingly bequeathed his successor a brilliant opportunity to free Nigeria from military rule.

The Economist

Before the change, about five Australians a year bought organs from the bodies of Chinese who had been executed, according to Jeremy Chapman, the Australian head of the International Transplantation Society.Knowingly or unknowingly, Europeans may have benefited from another racket, operating on their doorstep, in a region where the West claims to be upholding human rights.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "unknowingly" to clearly indicate that an action was performed without the actor's awareness or intention, avoiding any implication of deliberate wrongdoing.

Common error

Avoid using "unknowingly" interchangeably with adverbs like "carelessly" or "negligently". "Unknowingly" indicates a lack of awareness, whereas "carelessly" implies a lack of attention to detail, and "negligently" suggests a failure to exercise reasonable care.

Linguistic Context

The adverb "unknowingly" primarily functions to modify verbs, indicating that an action was performed without the actor's awareness or conscious intention. Ludwig AI confirms this through its examples, showing "unknowingly" used to describe actions done without knowledge of the consequences.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

39%

Encyclopedias

22%

Science

19%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The adverb "unknowingly" is used to express that an action was performed without awareness or intention. Ludwig AI confirms that it's a correct and usable word, commonly found in news, encyclopedias, and scientific texts. When writing, it's essential to distinguish "unknowingly" from words like "carelessly" or "negligently", which imply different states of mind. Using alternatives such as "unwittingly" or "inadvertently" can add nuance depending on the specific context. Remember, "unknowingly" emphasizes a lack of awareness, adding clarity and mitigating potential misinterpretations in your writing. Proper usage ensures that you accurately convey that an action was not deliberate, contributing to more precise and effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Unwittingly

Similar to "unknowingly", it emphasizes a lack of awareness or intention when performing an action.

Inadvertently

Highlights the accidental nature of an action, done without deliberate planning.

Unconsciously

Focuses on the lack of conscious awareness during the action.

Without realizing

Emphasizes the absence of understanding or recognition while performing an action.

Without being aware

Directly states the lack of awareness or knowledge during an action.

Without knowing

Highlights the absence of information or knowledge before or during the action.

Without intention

Focuses on the absence of deliberate purpose or plan in performing an action.

By accident

Emphasizes the unplanned and unintentional nature of the action.

Without meaning to

Stresses the lack of intent or purpose behind the action.

Unbeknownst to

This phrase is slightly more formal and emphasizes that the action happened without the knowledge of a specific person or group.

FAQs

How to use "unknowingly" in a sentence?

Use "unknowingly" to describe an action performed without awareness or intention. For example, "She "unknowingly" deleted the important file."

What can I say instead of "unknowingly"?

You can use alternatives like "unwittingly", "inadvertently", or "unconsciously" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "unknowingly" or "unbeknownst"?

"Unknowingly" is an adverb meaning without awareness, while "unbeknownst" is an adjective meaning without the knowledge of. You could say "She acted "unknowingly"" or "Unbeknownst to her, she was being watched."

What's the difference between "unknowingly" and "unintentionally"?

While both indicate a lack of intent, "unknowingly" focuses on a lack of awareness or knowledge. "Unintentionally" focuses on the absence of a deliberate plan or purpose. You might "unknowingly" break a rule you didn't know existed, or "unintentionally" offend someone with a poorly worded email.