Intentional

Intentional is an adjective meaning done on purpose or with intention. It describes actions, decisions, or statements that are planned or aimed at a goal, as opposed to accidental or unintentional occurrences. In everyday use, intentional is often paired with deliberate, purposeful, or conscious, and signals that a choice was not random.

In legal contexts, intent refers to a mental state of purpose or knowledge of the consequences, and it can determine culpability. Distinctions between intentional and unintentional harm influence criminal penalties and civil liability.

Philosophical use centers on intentionality, the aboutness or directedness of mental states. Originating with Franz Brentano, intentionality holds that thoughts, beliefs, desires, and perceptions are about something. The term is central in phenomenology and philosophy of mind; discussions include the nature of mental content, intentional objects, and whether content is determined by mental states or external factors. The "intentional stance" (Dennett) is a strategy for explaining behavior by ascribing beliefs and desires.

In discourse analysis or communication studies, intentionality refers to the speaker's intended meaning, which can differ from the literal content; miscommunication arises when intent and interpretation diverge.

From Latin intentus, from intendere "to stretch toward; intend; direct one's mind to".