incident

[ in-si-duhnt ]

/ ˈɪn sɪ dənt /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR incident ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

an individual occurrence or event.

a distinct piece of action, or an episode, as in a story or play.

something that occurs casually in connection with something else.

something appertaining or attaching to something else.

an occurrence of seemingly minor importance, especially involving nations or factions between which relations are strained and sensitive, that can lead to serious consequences, as an outbreak of hostilities or a war: border incident; international incident.

an embarrassing occurrence, especially of a social nature.

adjective

likely or apt to happen (usually followed by to).

naturally appertaining: hardships incident to the life of an explorer.

conjoined or attaching, especially as subordinate to a principal thing.

falling or striking on something, as light rays.

Nearby words

inchoation, inchoative, inchon, inchworm, incidence, incident, incident point, incidental, incidental music, incidental parasite, incidentally

Origin of incident

1375–1425; late Middle English < Middle French < Medieval Latin incident- (stem of incidēns a happening, noun use of present participle of Latin incidere to befall), equivalent to Latin in- in-² + -cid- (combining form of cad- fall) + -ent- -ent; cf. cadence

SYNONYMS FOR incident

1 happening. See event.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR incident ON THESAURUS.COM

Related forms

in·ci·dent·less, adjectivenon·in·ci·dent, noun, adjective

Can be confused

incidence incidents incidental

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for incident

The “crying” incident is thought to have hurt Muskie in the primary--which he won handily, but with under 50 percent of the vote.
The World’s Toughest Political Quiz|Jeff Greenfield|December 31, 2014|DAILY BEAST
“I guess it was their first incident where they lose a plane,” said Dobersberger, the travel agent.
The Presumed Crash of AirAsia Flight QZ8501 Is Nothing Like MH370|Lennox Samuels|December 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The incident sparked his belief in Santa, but he would have to wait nearly two decades before dressing up as Jolly St. Nick.
Kerry Bentivolio: The Congressman Who Believes in Santa Claus|Ben Jacobs|December 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The actor recalls an incident when his daughter was younger.
Jamie Foxx: Get Over the Black ‘Annie’|Stereo Williams|December 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST

But then somebody posted on YouTube a video of the incident, one that actually helps the police.
Protesters Slimed This Good Samaritan Cop|Michael Daly|December 16, 2014|DAILY BEAST
This incident served Henry as a pretence for his severity towards that prince.
The History of England in Three Volumes, Vol.I., Part C.|David Hume
An incident, illustrative of his summary methods of dealing with the insolence of his enemies in authority, occurred at Pensacola.
The Battle of New Orleans|Zachary F. Smith
Our next time up after our Christmas Day experiences were full of incident and adventure.
Bullets & Billets|Bruce Bairnsfather
Tell the story as you would tell them an incident you have just seen.
Journeys Through Bookland, Vol. 10|Charles Herbert Sylvester
With my conflicting thoughts about Julianna, I forgot the incident.
The Blue Wall|Richard Washburn Child

British Dictionary definitions for incident

incident

/ (ˈɪnsɪdənt) /

noun

a distinct or definite occurrence; event

a minor, subsidiary, or related event or action

a relatively insignificant event that might have serious consequences, esp in international politics

a public disturbancethe police had reports of an incident outside a pub

the occurrence of something interesting or excitingthe trip was not without incident

adjective

(postpositive foll by to) related (to) or dependent (on)

(when postpositive, often foll by to) having a subsidiary or minor relationship (with)

(esp of a beam of light or particles) arriving at or striking a surfaceincident electrons

Word Origin for incident

C15: from Medieval Latin incidens an event, from Latin incidere, literally: to fall into, hence befall, happen, from in- ² + cadere to fall

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

incident

noun

adjective

RELATED CONTENT

RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Origin of incident

SYNONYMS FOR incident

Related forms

Can be confused

Examples from the Web for incident

British Dictionary definitions for incident

incident

noun

adjective

Word Origin for incident