accident

[ak-si-duhnt]

noun

1. 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

2. 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.

3. any event that happens unexpectedly, without a deliberate plan or cause.

4. chance; fortune; luck.

   I was there by accident.

   Antonyms: intent, design

5. a fortuitous circumstance, quality, or characteristic.

   an accident of birth.

6. Philosophy.,  any entity or event contingent upon the existence of something else.

7. Geology.,  a surface irregularity, usually on a small scale, the reason for which is not apparent.

accident

/ ˈæksɪdənt /

noun

1. an unforeseen event or one without an apparent cause

2. anything that occurs unintentionally or by chance; chance; fortune

   I met him by accident

3. a misfortune or mishap, esp one causing injury or death

4. Also called: adjunct. logic philosophy a nonessential attribute or characteristic of something (as opposed to substance)

5. metaphysics a property as contrasted with the substance in which it inheres

6. geology a surface irregularity in a natural formation, esp in a rock formation or a river system

Other Word Forms

• postaccident adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of accident¹

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”

Word History and Origins

Origin of accident¹

C14: via Old French from Latin accident- chance, happening, from the present participle of accidere to befall, happen, from ad- to + cadere to fall

Example Sentences

When Indian investigators showed their U.S. counterparts the accident plane’s throttle assembly, the fuel-cutoff switches were in the run position, indicating the jet’s engines were getting fuel at the time of impact.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Several technical nominations are likely for this film about a former racing driver who returns to the track 30 years after an accident nearly ended his career.

Read more on BBC

A post that has gone viral on social media in the wake of the blaze reads: "It's not an accident".

Read more on BBC

"We have reason to believe that those in charge at the company were grossly negligent, which led to this accident and caused the fire to spread uncontrollably, resulting in major casualties," a police spokesperson said.

Read more on BBC

Police have arrested three men from the construction company involved, accusing the firm of gross negligence leading to the accident and causing the fire "to spread rapidly beyond control".

Read more on Barron's

Related Words

• calamity 
• casualty 
• disaster 
• hazard 
• mishap 
• pileup 
• setback