What Is Another Way to Say “Not on Purpose”?

Looking for synonyms for not on purpose? We’ve got you covered!

Here’s a list of other ways to say not on purpose.

  • Accidentally
  • Unintentionally
  • Inadvertently
  • Incidentally
  • By mistake
  • Unknowingly
  • Without intending
  • By accident
  • By chance
  • Unwittingly
  • Involuntarily
  • Unpremeditatedly
  • Mistakenly
  • Unplanned
  • Serendipitously
  • Spontaneously
  • Unwillingly
  • Randomly
  • Haphazardly
  • Fortuitously

Want to learn how to say not on purpose professionally? Keep reading for examples and use cases.

1. Accidentally

Appropriate Use: Refers to an event that happens by chance or without intention.
Example: “She accidentally deleted the important file from the database.”

2. Unintentionally

Appropriate Use: Describes an action done without intending to or without being aware of it.
Example: “He unintentionally offended the client during the presentation.”

3. Inadvertently

Appropriate Use: Indicates something done without knowledge or awareness.
Example: “Inadvertently, she sent the confidential email to the wrong recipient.”

4. Incidentally

Appropriate Use: Refers to a secondary or unintentional action.
Example: “Incidentally, the conversation led to a valuable networking opportunity.”

5. By Mistake

Appropriate Use: Describes an action or decision made due to an error or misunderstanding.
Example: “The order was processed by mistake, even though it was supposed to be cancelled.”

6. Unknowingly

Appropriate Use: Indicates doing something without awareness or knowledge.
Example: “He unknowingly shared outdated information with the team.”

7. Without Intending

Appropriate Use: Refers to actions that occur without the intention to do so.
Example: “She solved a major problem without intending, simply by restructuring the database.”

8. By Accident

Appropriate Use: Similar to accidentally, it refers to something happening by chance.
Example: “The discovery of the security flaw in the software happened by accident during routine testing.”

9. By Chance

Appropriate Use: Describes an event that happens unexpectedly or without planning.
Example: “By chance, he met a potential investor at the conference.”

10. Unwittingly

Appropriate Use: Doing something without being aware of the full implications.
Example: “The company unwittingly entered a market that was about to become highly competitive.”

11. Involuntarily

Appropriate Use: Refers to an action done without conscious control or decision.
Example: “He involuntarily revealed confidential information during the casual conversation.”

12. Unpremeditatedly

Appropriate Use: Indicates an action that is not planned or thought out in advance.
Example: “The response to the crisis was unpremeditatedly effective, despite the lack of a formal plan.”

13. Mistakenly

Appropriate Use: Refers to actions taken as a result of a mistake.
Example: “The report was mistakenly sent out before it was finalized.”

14. Unplanned

Appropriate Use: Describes something that was not expected or intended.
Example: “The meeting turned into an unplanned brainstorming session, yielding several innovative ideas.”

15. Serendipitously

Appropriate Use: Indicates a happy or beneficial event that occurs by chance.
Example: “She serendipitously stumbled upon a solution while researching a different problem.”

16. Spontaneously

Appropriate Use: Refers to something happening without being planned or forced.
Example: “The team spontaneously decided to pivot their strategy, which proved successful.”

17. Unwillingly

Appropriate Use: Doing something against one’s wishes or desire.
Example: “He was unwillingly drawn into the conflict between the departments.”

18. Randomly

Appropriate Use: Indicates something done without a definite plan or pattern.
Example: “The audit randomly selected files for review, and a major error was discovered.”

19. Haphazardly

Appropriate Use: Describes actions done in a manner lacking any obvious principle or organization.
Example: “The files were haphazardly organized, making it difficult to find important documents.”

20. Fortuitously

Appropriate Use: Refers to something happening by fortunate accident or chance.
Example: “The team fortuitously encountered a potential client at a trade show.”

Linda Brown