fender bender

noun

|Updated on: 22 Jun 2018

Definition of fender bender

: a minor automobile accident

See fender bender defined for English-language learners

Recent Examples of fender bender from the Web

In most casts, the fatal airbag deployments were triggered by a fender bender from which the victims should have been able to walk away, the release said.

— ron hurtibise, Sun-Sentinel.com, "Feds warn South Florida drivers about need to get airbags replaced," 8 June 2018
According to the report, the model’s chauffeured car was involved in a fender bender.

— jodi guglielmi, PEOPLE.com, "Kendall Jenner Denies Report She Was Involved in Fender Bender at Cannes Film Festival," 17 May 2018
Ramona Singer is recovering after getting into a fender bender in the Hamptons over the weekend.

— dave quinn, PEOPLE.com, "Ramona Singer Is 'Swollen and Bruised' After 'Upsetting' Car Accident in the Hamptons: Source," 29 May 2018
What about the woeful ridership numbers, broken-down ticket machines and plethora of other fender benders?

— jason williams, Cincinnati.com, "PX: Is Cincinnati's streetcar cursed? Here's what Bible scholar, psychic have to say," 22 Jan. 2018
Despite those instructions, 44-year-old Dorothy Bruns was involved in a fender bender on Jan. 20 and left the scene, according to prosecutors.

— colleen long, BostonGlobe.com, "Driver in crash that killed Broadway actress’s 4-year-old daughter charged," 4 May 2018
Despite those instructions, Bruns was involved in a fender bender on Jan. 20 and left the scene, according to prosecutors.

— crimesider staff, CBS News, "Prosecutors: Driver who had seizure, killed 2 kids was warned by doctor not to drive," 3 May 2018
In one episode, Mr. Shah said that Dr. Jackson was rear-ended, resulting in a fender bender.

— michael d. shear, New York Times, "White House Says Records Don’t Match Accusation Against Jackson," 27 Apr. 2018
The air bags, which sit about a foot from a driver's chest, have a 50-50 chance of exploding in a fender bender.

— Anchorage Daily News, "10 years later, thousands of risky air bags are still on the road," 23 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'fender bender.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.