accident
Americannoun
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accidents
plural
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an undesirable or unfortunate happening that occurs unintentionally and usually results in harm, injury, damage, or loss; casualty; mishap.
automobile accidents.
- Synonyms:
- disaster, contingency, misadventure, misfortune, mischance
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Law. such a happening resulting in injury that is in no way the fault of the injured person for which compensation or indemnity is legally sought.
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any event that happens unexpectedly, without a deliberate plan or cause.
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chance; fortune; luck.
I was there by accident.
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a fortuitous circumstance, quality, or characteristic.
an accident of birth.
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Philosophy. any entity or event contingent upon the existence of something else.
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Geology. a surface irregularity, usually on a small scale, the reason for which is not apparent.
noun
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an unforeseen event or one without an apparent cause
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anything that occurs unintentionally or by chance; chance; fortune
I met him by accident
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a misfortune or mishap, esp one causing injury or death
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Also called: adjunct. logic philosophy a nonessential attribute or characteristic of something (as opposed to substance)
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metaphysics a property as contrasted with the substance in which it inheres
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geology a surface irregularity in a natural formation, esp in a rock formation or a river system
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of accident
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Latin accident-, stem of accidēns “happening,” present participle of accidere “to befall, happen,” from ac- ac- + -cidere, combining form of cadere “to fall”
Explanation
An accident is an unfortunate event. By their very nature, accidents are not planned. Rear-ending the car ahead of you, spilling milk, losing your footing on an icy sidewalk — all of these are considered accidents. You will most often hear people use accident to describe an unfortunate mistake, like swerving into oncoming traffic or making a sloppy calculation. However, an accident could have a positive outcome as well: "The invention of the chocolate chip cookie was a happy accident, occurring when the cook decided to add the chopped chocolate to the batter without melting it first."
Vocabulary lists containing accident
"Angels in the Snow"
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cas, cad, cid
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"Alice's Adventures in Wonderland" by Lewis Carroll, Chapters 10–12
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
The child's parents took him to the accident and emergency department at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, where he was treated for partial blistering to his leg and forearm.
From BBC ● Aug. 31, 2026
Does a 2% beneficiary inherit 100% if the 98% beneficiary dies in a car accident?
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 28, 2026
Staffing levels at air-traffic control facilities during midnight shifts have long been a concern of the NTSB—“especially if there’s a heavy workload,” Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy said at a March press conference about the accident.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 27, 2026
The two bills would bar lawyers from prioritizing the desires of private investors who fund lawsuits, and ramp up penalties for lawyers who scout for clients at hospitals, jails and accident sites.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 27, 2026
If they’re released during a nuclear accident, the same neutrons that ping around inside the nuclear reactor breaking apart uranium atoms can careen through a worker’s body.
From "Meltdown" by Deirdre Langeland
"These injuries were most likely caused by accidents, falls, hard blows, or other impacts linked to an active lifestyle, whether through hunting, military training, or other demanding activities," said Hashesh.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 30, 2026
The other is a powerful exposé on the safety breaches that have caused deadly crashes and accidents on Boeing airplanes.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 26, 2026
More than once, she said, she has had to order planes to slow down or alter their trajectories to avoid accidents.
From Barron's ● Aug. 23, 2026
“All the accidents and everything, it’s just exciting,” said Tracy Hurley, 56.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 21, 2026
Dad bought the updated 1982 Highway Code the day it came out, and he says old ones could cause accidents if they’re not destroyed.
From "Black Swan Green" by David Mitchell
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
