accidentology

noun

ac·​ci·​den·​tol·​o·​gy ˌak-sə-dən-ˈtä-lə-jē 

-(ˌ)den-

: the study and analysis of the causes and effects of accidents

Fatigue, vigilance and monotony were first studied in professional rail and road drivers, then, as motorway accidentology developed, in all car drivers.

—Pierre-Emmanuel Barjonet, Traffic Psychology Today, 2001

Word History

First Known Use

1982, in the meaning defined above

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

• More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
• Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
• Advanced search features
• Ad free!