incidence

[ in-si-duhns ]

/ ˈɪn sɪ dəns /

Save This Word!

See synonyms for: incidence / incidences on Thesaurus.com

noun

the rate or range of occurrence or influence of something, especially of something unwanted: the high incidence of heart disease in men over 40.

a falling upon, affecting, or befalling; occurrence: The incidence of murder that Sunday afternoon shocked the sleepy village.

Optics, Physics.

the striking of a ray of light, beam of electrons, etc., on a surface, or the direction of striking.
angle of incidence (def. 1).

the fact or the manner of being incident.

Geometry. partial coincidence of two figures, as of a line and a plane containing it.

QUIZ

CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?

There are grammar debates that never die; and the ones highlighted in the questions in this quiz are sure to rile everyone up once again. Do you know how to answer the questions that cause some of the greatest grammar debates?

Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of incidence

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English, from Late Latin incidentia. See incident, -ence

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH incidence

incidence , incidents, incidental

Words nearby incidence

Inchon, in chorus, inch plant, inch-pound, inchworm, incidence, incident, incidental, incidentally, incidental music, incidentaloma

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use incidence in a sentence

Science has long shown that the kickoff is the most dangerous play in football, with the highest incidence rate of concussions from the intense collisions.
Why Are We Still Returning Kicks In College Football?|Jake Lourim|December 11, 2020|FiveThirtyEight
The incidence of the disorder, which causes a temporary weakness or paralysis in muscles of the face, was not greater than in the general population.
Experts recommend the FDA approve Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine for emergency use|Tina Hesman Saey|December 10, 2020|Science News
The San Diego Board of Supervisors did this in June, creating a “Mobile Crisis Response Team” of trained mental health providers to respond to nonviolent incidences involving people with mental health issues.
New County Board and Sheriff Could Be Headed for a Standoff|Maya Srikrishnan|November 11, 2020|Voice of San Diego
A few weeks after Penn State resumed classes, Centre County, which for five months had largely avoided major spikes, had Pennsylvania’s highest positivity and incidence rates.
Football is back in Happy Valley. The coronavirus never left.|Kent Babb|October 30, 2020|Washington Post

When the initial incidences of lead pipes emerged, the records they had for where the piping systems were located were on index cards at the bottom of an administrative building.
The true dangers of AI are closer than we think|Katie McLean|October 21, 2020|MIT Technology Review
For example, studies cited in the report have shown a higher incidence of birth defects for people living near drill sites.
New York’s Conservative Fracking Ban|Jay Michaelson|December 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
This behaviorally specific questioning method generally results in higher incidence rates than the ones used in the BJS report.
College Girls Are Less Likely to Be Raped Than Non-Students|Brandy Zadrozny|December 11, 2014|DAILY BEAST
And without a concrete way to measure the incidence of domestic violence, it is purely observational.
Another Hazy Week For Weed|Abby Haglage|September 1, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Meanwhile, since the 1970s, our yearly sugar consumption has skyrocketed along with the incidence of diabetes and obesity.
The Heart Association’s Junk Science Diet|Dr. Barbara H. Roberts|May 22, 2014|DAILY BEAST
This would push food prices up internationally, raising the incidence of hunger, disease and political instability.
Can Generation Hot Avoid Its Fate?|Mark Hertsgaard|April 5, 2014|DAILY BEAST
That the tax was reasonable in intention, equitable in incidence, and in itself tolerable, few probably will now deny.
The Political History of England - Vol. X.|William Hunt
Now it is apparent here that the angle of reflexion is made equal to the angle of incidence.
Treatise on Light|Christiaan Huygens
As recently as the nineteenth century, the incidence of disease was a thousandfold greater than it is now.
This Crowded Earth|Robert Bloch
For the sake of illustration, the stabilizing surface has been given an angle of incidence, and therefore has a lift and C.P.
The Aeroplane Speaks|H. Barber
The main surface towards the wing-tips is given a decreasing angle of incidence and corresponding camber.
The Aeroplane Speaks|H. Barber

British Dictionary definitions for incidence

incidence

/ (ˈɪnsɪdəns) /

noun

degree, extent, or frequency of occurrence; amounta high incidence of death from pneumonia

the act or manner of impinging on or affecting by proximity or influence

physics the arrival of a beam of light or particles at a surfaceSee also angle of incidence

geometry the partial coincidence of two configurations, such as a point that lies on a circle

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

incidence

Origin of incidence

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH incidence

Words nearby incidence

Words related to incidence

How to use incidence in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for incidence