PsychologyAugust 22, 2026
inattentional
in-uh-TEN-shun-uhl
Definition
Relating to the failure to perceive an object or event that is in plain sight because one's focus is directed elsewhere.
Etymology
Derived from the Latin prefix 'in-' (not) combined with 'attention,' from the verb 'attendere' (to stretch toward or direct the mind to). It entered English in the 19th century to describe the state of failing to notice.
In the news
The article uses the term 'inattentional blindness' to explain that noticing typos does not mean someone is attentive to everything; a person may spot a spelling error while completely missing other visual details elsewhere in the same scene.
Psychology says people who notice small spelling mistakes everywhere may have a different attentional filtering style
Read the full article ↗The Economic Times