SINCE 1828
dictionary
thesaurus
view recents

per accidens

adverb
Save Word
per ac·​ci·​dens | \ pəˈraksəˌdenz, ˌpər‧ˈa-, peˈra- \

Definition of per accidens

1 : by chance or extraneous circumstance : accidentally he is not learned, except per accidens— Walter Moberly
2 : in accidental or nonessential character

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!

History and Etymology for per accidens

Late Latin

Learn More About per accidens

Dictionary Entries Near per accidens

Peracarida

per accidens

peract

See More Nearby Entries 

Statistics for per accidens

Cite this Entry

“Per accidens.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/per%20accidens. Accessed 18 Jan. 2022.

Style: MLA
MLACheck Mark Icon ChicagoCheck Mark Icon APACheck Mark Icon Merriam-WebsterCheck Mark Icon

WORD OF THE DAY

winsome

Listen to the pronunciation of winsome

See Definitions and Examples »

Test Your Vocabulary

Farm Idioms Quiz

  • cow coming home
  • What does 'poke' refer to in the expression 'pig in a poke'?
How Strong Is Your Vocabulary?

Test your vocabulary with our 10-question quiz!

TAKE THE QUIZ
Universal Daily Crossword

A daily challenge for crossword fanatics.

TAKE THE QUIZ
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play
Ask the Editors
Word Games