In'ad-vert'ence or In'ad-vert'en-cy, n.
n. [Fr. inadvertance, Pr. inadvertensa, Sp. & Pg. inadvertencia, It. inavvertenza, inavvertenzia.]
Sense 1. The quality of being inadvertent; lack of heedfulness or attentiveness; inattention; negligence; as, many mistakes, and some misfortunes, proceed from inadvertence.
Sense 2. An effect of inattention; an oversight, mistake, or fault which proceeds from negligence of thought.
The productions of a great genius, with many lapses and inadvertencies, are infinitely preferable to works of an inferior kind of author which are scrupulously exact. Addison.
Synonyms— Inattention; carelessness; heedlessness; thoughtlessness. See INATTENTION.