incident

[in-si-duhnt]

noun

1. an individual occurrence or event.

   Synonyms: happening

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

3. something that occurs casually in connection with something else.

4. something appertaining or attaching to something else.

5. 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.

6. an embarrassing occurrence, especially of a social nature.

adjective

1. likely or apt to happen (usually followed byto ).

2. naturally appertaining.

   hardships incident to the life of an explorer.

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

4. falling or striking on something, as light rays.

incident

/ ˈɪnsɪdənt /

noun

1. a distinct or definite occurrence; event

2. a minor, subsidiary, or related event or action

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

4. a public disturbance

   the police had reports of an incident outside a pub

5. the occurrence of something interesting or exciting

   the trip was not without incident

adjective

1. related (to) or dependent (on)

2. having a subsidiary or minor relationship (with)

3. (esp of a beam of light or particles) arriving at or striking a surface

   incident electrons

Other Word Forms

• incidentless adjective
• nonincident noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of incident¹

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English, from Middle French, from Medieval Latin incident- (stem of incidēns “a happening,” noun use of present participle of Latin verb incidere “to fall upon, befall”), equivalent to Latin in- in- ² + -cid- (combining form of cad- “fall”) + -ent- -ent; cadenza

Word History and Origins

Origin of incident¹

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

Synonym Study

See event.

Example Sentences

Despite this Interior Minister Nji said the polls were held without major incidents in all 10 regions of the country.

Read more on BBC

He said he had a fantastic time in Dublin but the incident on Saturday was a disappointing end to their trip.

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"We understand that this incident may cause concern in the local community. There is no wider threat to the public," she added.

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In the Doherty incident, text messages displayed in court show Young claimed he didn’t realize why pulling his gun was wrong until after it happened.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Whether or not Dunn actually meant to be funny, that incident reminds me of how a seemingly small act of resistance can indeed expose executive overreach.

Read more on Salon

Related Words

• circumstance 
• episode 
• event 
• fact 
• matter 
• scene