accident

American  

[ak-si-duhnt] / ˈæk sɪ dənt /

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.

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accident British  

/ 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

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• postaccident
  adjective

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."

Example Sentences

A widow whose husband was killed in a car accident by a negligent driver but who could not bring a lawsuit because of a federal statute preserving governmental immunity.

From Slate • Jun. 2, 2026

Officials have identified the man killed in a skydiving accident last month in Perris.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 2, 2026

"I was in a car accident and, through that, I had to have an operation," the ex-Newcastle United forward and manager said on stage at the Tyne Theatre and Opera House.

From BBC • Jun. 1, 2026

Waymo said in a blog post that the accident demonstrated the relative safety of a computer-driven vehicle, adding that a human in the same situation would have made contact at 14 mph.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 30, 2026

“But it was an accident, right? Leo doesn’t seem the type to do that on purpose.”

From "Clairboyance" by Kristiana Kahakauwila

Related Words

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