Main Entry:

ac·ci·dent

Pronunciation:

\ˈak-sə-dənt, -ˌdent; ˈaks-dənt\

Function:

noun

Etymology:

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

Date:

14th century

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 defecation3: a nonessential property or quality of an entity or circumstance <the accident of nationality>