plural accidents
1
: a sudden event (such as a crash) that is not planned or intended and that causes damage or injury
We got in a car accident. = We had a car accident.
a traffic accident
a fatal accident
a motorcycle 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.
"I'm sorry that I broke the bowl." "That's OK. It was just an accident." = "That's OK. Accidents will happen."
Note: An accident waiting to happen is a person or thing that is dangerous or unsafe.
2
: an event that is not planned or intended : an event that occurs by chance
Their meeting was an accident.
It is just an accident that they arrived when we did.
Discovering a new café when we got lost was a happy accident.
His wealth is a mere accident of birth. [=he is wealthy only because he was born into a wealthy family]
He says that no one is to blame for his illness. It was just an accident of nature. [=something that happened naturally]
It is no accident that the assistant he hired is so tech savvy. [=he deliberately chose an assistant who was tech savvy]
Cite this Entry
“Accident.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/accident. Accessed 23 Jun. 2026.
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