What does unimportantly mean?
Unimportantly means in an unimportant manner, with little or no significance attached to an action, remark, or distinction. It is an adverb, so it typically answers the question “in what manner?” and is formed from the adjective unimportant plus the suffix -ly. In ordinary writing, most speakers are more likely to say that something was “treated as unimportant” or “mentioned without much significance,” but unimportantly can be useful when the manner of dismissing or regarding something is itself in view. Its tone is formal and literary, and it may sound deliberate rather than neutral. The word has no special regional restriction; its pronunciation differs mainly in the usual British and American treatment of the r in “portant.” It is also worth distinguishing from unimportant, which is an adjective describing a lack of importance, whereas unimportantly describes how something is done or regarded.
adverbIn an unimportant manner; without significance or consequence.
- In an unimportant manner; without significance or consequence.
"She dismissed the minor discrepancy unimportantly, without giving it serious consideration."
"The minor editorial changes were treated unimportantly and drew little attention."
"She mentioned the distinction unimportantly in passing, indicating that it did not affect her decision."
Unimportantly turns the simple idea of “not mattering” into a precise and satisfying adverb.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does unimportantly come from?
Unimportantly was formed adverbially from unimportant by adding the suffix -ly. Unimportant combines the negative prefix un- with important, a word borrowed from French important and ultimately from Latin importāre, “to bring in.” The Latin family developed senses associated with consequence and significance, from which the modern words important, importance, and importantly emerged.
How unimportantly is actually used
Uncommon and somewhat literary; neutral prose usually favors constructions such as “as unimportant” or “without much significance.” It has no inherent regional restriction.
Easily confused with unimportantly
Unimportant is an adjective describing something that lacks significance, whereas unimportantly is an adverb describing the manner in which something is done or regarded.