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unanticipated
/ˌʌnænˈtɪsɪpeɪtɪd/
not expected or predicted
The company faced unanticipated challenges during the project's final phase.
The company encountered difficulties that were not expected when the project began.
formal
not expected or predicted; happening without being planned or foreseen
The unanticipated rise in fuel prices disrupted travel plans.
The unexpected increase in fuel costs ruined people's travel arrangements.
Unanticipated side effects of the medication were reported in clinical trials.
Unexpected reactions to the drug were documented during testing.
Often used in formal or technical contexts to describe events or outcomes that were not anticipated in advance.
Collocations
unanticipated eventan event that was not expectedunanticipated consequencean unintended resultunanticipated delaya delay that was not planned
Pro Tip
Avoid overusing 'unanticipated'
In casual conversation, 'unexpected' is more natural and widely understood. Reserve 'unanticipated' for formal reports, analyses, or contexts where precision is valued.
Gold Rule
Use 'unanticipated' for formal contexts
Prefer 'unanticipated' in writing (e.g., business, academic, or technical) to sound more precise. In speech, 'unexpected' is often clearer and more conversational.
Word Origin
From un- (prefix meaning 'not') + anticipated (past participle of anticipate, from Latin anticipare 'to take before', from ante- 'before' + capere 'take'). First recorded in English in the late 17th century.
Usage Notes
While 'unanticipated' is slightly more formal than 'unexpected', the two are often interchangeable. 'Unanticipated' is more commonly used in professional, academic, or technical writing to emphasize a lack of prior anticipation rather than a mere surprise.
Word Breakdown
un-
not
prefixanticipat-
to look forward to or expect
root-ed
past participle suffix
suffixEnglish Dictionary