Unbeknownst

Adverb. Without the knowledge of someone; without being known or informed. This word implies a degree of secrecy or unexpectedness, highlighting a situation where someone is unaware of something significant that is happening or has happened. It emphasizes the surprise or lack of awareness of the person or people in question, and it often sets the stage for a revealing or consequential event. The information concealed could be a secret, a plan, or a truth that significantly impacts the unaware individual. The implication is that the unaware person is oblivious to a specific detail or series of events.

Unbeknownst meaning with examples

• Unbeknownst to the detective, the key piece of evidence had been moved from the crime scene hours earlier. The shift in the case was a critical point, the culprit's clever trick had changed all the detective’s plans, but the detective continued as if nothing had happened.
• He continued planning the surprise party, unbeknownst to his wife, who was secretly planning her own surprise for him on the same day. This added an extra layer of complexity as two conflicting plans collided; the ensuing chaos would test their relationship.
• Unbeknownst to the departing passengers, a bomb scare had shut down all the security gates. The passengers, completely in the dark, were unaware of the imminent danger. The lack of information resulted in fear and confusion in the airport.
• The entire town was preparing for a festival, unbeknownst to the new family that just arrived from a different country. They were bewildered by the sudden burst of colors, activity and anticipation that had swept through the usually quiet area.
• Unbeknownst to the researchers, a crucial error in the lab test had yielded incorrect data, leading them to completely inaccurate conclusions. Because the error had been so well hidden, their discovery was inaccurate and the team continued down the wrong path.