[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/unwitting/)

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# unwitting

adjective (unwitting)

«unwitting» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. Unwitting means not knowing or not aware of what you are doing or what is happening. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/U/unwitting/#m1)
2. Unwitting can describe something done by accident, without meaning to, like an unwitting mistake. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/U/unwitting/#m2)

### In the lessons

In stories and news: an unwitting helper, unwitting victim, unwitting accomplice who helps a crime without knowing. It tells the reader a character did not realise. Adverb «unwittingly» is common: «she unwittingly told the secret».

### Examples

- The postman was an unwitting helper in the robbery. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/U/unwitting/#x1)
- She made an unwitting mistake on the map. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/U/unwitting/#x2)
- The unwitting tourist bought a fake ticket. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/U/unwitting/#x3)
- He unwittingly gave away the surprise. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/U/unwitting/#x4)
- The cat was an unwitting star of the video. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/U/unwitting/#x5)
- Unwitting people can spread fake news. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/U/unwitting/#x6)

### Note

From old «wit», meaning to know. Close to «unknowing», «unaware». Opposite: «witting» (rare), usually «knowing» or «deliberate».

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «unwitting» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/U/unwitting/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«unwitting» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/unwitting.html) on Mova free.