accident

noun

ac·​ci·​dent ˈak-sə-dənt How to pronounce accident (audio) -ˌdent How to pronounce accident (audio)
ˈaks-dənt
1
a
: an unforeseen and unplanned event or circumstance
Their meeting was an accident.
b
: lack of intention or necessity : chance
They met by accident rather than by design.
2
a
: an unfortunate event resulting especially from carelessness or ignorance
was involved in a traffic accident
b
medical : an unexpected and medically important bodily event especially when injurious
a cerebrovascular accident
c
law : 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
US, informal
used euphemistically to refer to an uncontrolled or involuntary act or instance of urination or defecation (as by a baby or a pet)
The puppy had an accident on the rug.
3
: a nonessential property or quality of an entity or circumstance
the accident of nationality

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between accidental and incidental?

Accidental describes what was not planned or intended. It means "happening by accident" or "happening as an accident," as in "an accidental discovery" and "an accidental injury." Incidental typically means "happening as a minor part or result of something else," as in "a chapter that is incidental to the novel's plot." For more information read the full article.

Do you say 'on accident' or 'by accident'?

While both "by accident" and "on accident" are used, "by accident" is far more common.

What does 'accident waiting to happen' mean?

The phrase "an accident waiting to happen" refers to a person or thing that is dangerous or unsafe. For example, a very clumsy person and a rickety ladder might both be referred to as "an accident waiting to happen."

Examples of accident in a Sentence

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. Their meeting was an accident.
Recent Examples on the Web Stoppages for more than three months have risen by 9.5%, and sick leave due to work accidents is up by 11.3%. Shawn Tully, Fortune Europe, 10 Oct. 2024 During a Beyond Fest 2024 panel moderated by IndieWire editor Jim Hemphill, both actors reflected on how maneuvering one of the buses used in the film led to real car accidents. Samantha Bergeson, IndieWire, 10 Oct. 2024 An American skier has reportedly died in a mountain climbing accident in Nepal. Anthony Robledo, USA TODAY, 10 Oct. 2024 The cost of catastrophic medical coverage for auto accidents will go down a few bucks next year for some Michigan drivers. Jc Reindl, Detroit Free Press, 9 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for accident 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'accident.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, "happening, nonessential property, diseased condition, disturbance (of the mind)," borrowed from Anglo-French, "irregularity, incident, symptom," borrowed from Latin accident-, accidens "chance event, contingent attribute" (translating Greek symbebēkós), from present participle of accidere "to fall down, impinge on, be heard, happen," from ad- ad- + cadere "to fall" — more at chance entry 1

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Time Traveler
The first known use of accident was in the 14th century

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Dictionary Entries Near accident

Cite this Entry

“Accident.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/accident. Accessed 14 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

accident

noun
ac·​ci·​dent ˈak-səd-ənt How to pronounce accident (audio)
-sə-ˌdent
1
a
: an event occurring by chance or from unknown causes
b
: chance entry 1 sense 1
we met by accident
2
: an unintended and usually sudden and unexpected event resulting in loss or injury
an automobile accident

Medical Definition

accident

noun
1
: an unfortunate event resulting from carelessness, unawareness, ignorance, or a combination of causes
2
: an unexpected bodily event of medical importance especially when injurious
a cerebrovascular accident
3
: 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
accidental adjective
accidentally adverb
also accidently

Legal Definition

accident

noun
ac·​ci·​dent
: an unexpected usually sudden event that occurs without intent or volition although sometimes through carelessness, unawareness, ignorance, or a combination of causes and that produces an unfortunate result (as an injury) for which the affected party may be entitled to relief under the law or to compensation under an insurance policy see also unavoidable accident

Note: The term accident has been held to include intentional acts (such as an assault and battery) under workers' compensation laws.

accidental adjective
accidentally adverb
also accidently

More from Merriam-Webster on accident

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