Intentionnellement

Intentionnellement is a French adverb meaning deliberately, on purpose, or with intentionality. It describes actions performed with conscious aim or planning, as opposed to those happening by chance or accident. It is the adverbial form of the adjective intentionnel, which conveys the sense of being deliberate or purposeful.

Etymology and form: intentionnellement is formed from the noun intention with the suffix -nel to create the adjective intentionnel, followed by the adverbial suffix -ment. The construction is common in formal and academic registers, including philosophy, law, and ethics, where precision about intention matters. In everyday speech, speakers may opt for synonyms such as délibérément or volontairement depending on nuance.

Usage and nuance: intentionnellement emphasizes the actor’s awareness of consequences and the planning behind an action. It can carry moral or evaluative weight, signaling disapproval or justification depending on context. It is often contrasted with involontairement (involuntarily) or accidentellement (accidentally). In philosophical discussions about mind and action, related terms like intentionnalité refer to intentionality—the aboutness of mental states—which is a separate but etymologically connected concept.

Examples: Il a intentionnellement ignoré la question. Le document est intentionnellement ambigu. Le journaliste affirme que la fuite d’informations a été intentionnellement retardée. In formal writing, intentionnellement can similarly modify verbs or describe the manner of actions to clarify deliberate motive.