accident

[ ak-si-duhnt ]
See synonyms for accident on Thesaurus.com
noun
  1. an undesirable or unfortunate happening that occurs unintentionally and usually results in harm, injury, damage, or loss; casualty; mishap: automobile accidents.

  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.

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

  2. chance; fortune; luck: I was there by accident.

  3. a fortuitous circumstance, quality, or characteristic: an accident of birth.

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

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

Origin of accident

1
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”

Other words for accident

Opposites for accident

Other words from accident

  • post·ac·ci·dent, adjective

Words that may be confused with accident

Words Nearby accident

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use accident in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for accident

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

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

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

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

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

Origin of accident

1
C14: via Old French from Latin accident- chance, happening, from the present participle of accidere to befall, happen, from ad- to + 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