accident
About Our Definitions: All forms of a word (noun, verb, etc.) are now displayed on one page.
About Our Definitions: All forms of a word (noun, verb, etc.) are now displayed on one page.ac·ci·dent
noun \ˈak-sə-dənt, -ˌdent; ˈaks-dənt\Definition of ACCIDENT
1
a : an unforeseen and unplanned event or circumstance b : lack of intention or necessity : chance <met by accident rather than by design>
2
a : an unfortunate event resulting especially from carelessness or ignorance b : an unexpected and medically important bodily event especially when injurious <a cerebrovascular accident> c : an unexpected happening causing loss or injury which is not due to any fault or misconduct on the part of the person injured but for which legal relief may be sought d —used euphemistically to refer to an involuntary act or instance of urination or defecation
3
: a nonessential property or quality of an entity or circumstance <the accident of nationality>
See Examples of ACCIDENT
- He was injured in an accident at work.
- The accident happened when her car slid on a patch of ice.
- Investigators are still trying to determine the cause of the accident.
- Their meeting was an accident.
- It is just an accident that they arrived when they did.
- She says that her pregnancy was an accident.
Origin of ACCIDENT
Middle English, from Middle French, from Latin accident-, accidens nonessential quality, chance, from present participle of accidere to happen, from ad- + cadere to fall — more at chance
First Known Use: 14th century
Rhymes with ACCIDENT
aliment, Blaenau Gwent, circumvent, compartment, complement, compliment, confident, devilment, diffident, discontent, document, evident, heaven-sent, implement, incident, instrument, Jack-a-Lent, malcontent, nonevent, Occident, ornament, orient, provident, regiment, reinvent, represent, re-present, resident, Saint-Laurent, sediment, self-content, subsequent, supplement
ac·ci·dent
noun \ˈak-səd-ənt, -sə-ˌdent; ˈaks-dənt\ (Medical Dictionary)Medical Definition of ACCIDENT
1
: an unfortunate event resulting from carelessness, unawareness, ignorance, or a combination of causes
2
: an unexpected bodily event of medical importance especially when injurious <a cerebrovascular accident>
3
: an unexpected happening causing loss or injury which is not due to any fault or misconduct on the part of the person injured but for which legal relief may be sought
—ac·ci·den·tal \ˌak-sə-ˈdent-əl\ (audio pronunciation) adjective
—ac·ci·den·tal·ly \-ˈdent-lē, -əl-ē\ (audio pronunciation) also ac·ci·dent·ly \-ˈdent-lē\ (audio pronunciation) adverb
Learn More About ACCIDENT
Browse
Next Word in the Dictionary: accidental (adjective)
Previous Word in the Dictionary: accidens
All Words Near: accident
Previous Word in the Dictionary: accidens
All Words Near: accident
Seen & Heard 
What made you want to look up accident? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
