accident

noun

ac·​ci·​dent ˈak-sə-dənt How to pronounce accident (audio) -ˌdent How to pronounce accident (audio)
ˈaks-dənt
1
a
: an unforeseen and unplanned event or circumstance
Their meeting was an accident.
b
: lack of intention or necessity : chance
They met by accident rather than by design.
2
a
: an unfortunate event resulting especially from carelessness or ignorance
was involved in a traffic accident
b
medical : an unexpected and medically important bodily event especially when injurious
a cerebrovascular accident
c
law : an unexpected happening causing loss or injury which is not due to any fault or misconduct on the part of the person injured but for which legal relief may be sought
d
US, informal
used euphemistically to refer to an uncontrolled or involuntary act or instance of urination or defecation (as by a baby or a pet)
The puppy had an accident on the rug.
3
: a nonessential property or quality of an entity or circumstance
the accident of nationality

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between accidental and incidental?

Accidental describes what was not planned or intended. It means "happening by accident" or "happening as an accident," as in "an accidental discovery" and "an accidental injury." Incidental typically means "happening as a minor part or result of something else," as in "a chapter that is incidental to the novel's plot." For more information read the full article.

Do you say 'on accident' or 'by accident'?

While both "by accident" and "on accident" are used, "by accident" is far more common.

What does 'accident waiting to happen' mean?

The phrase "an accident waiting to happen" refers to a person or thing that is dangerous or unsafe. For example, a very clumsy person and a rickety ladder might both be referred to as "an accident waiting to happen."

Examples of accident in a Sentence

He was injured in an accident at work. The accident happened when her car slid on a patch of ice. Investigators are still trying to determine the cause of the accident. Their meeting was an accident.
Recent Examples on the Web Biden had survived a personal agony almost beyond reckoning: in 1972, a car accident had killed his wife, Neilia, and daughter, Naomi, and left his young sons, Beau and Hunter, hospitalized. Evan Osnos, The New Yorker, 4 Mar. 2024 In addition to Beaudette, an unidentified minor in the Toyota was injured in the accident as well. Daniel McFadin, arkansasonline.com, 3 Mar. 2024 And with 65 of every 100,000 Dominicans dying in road accidents every year, the country also has the highest rate of traffic fatalities in the Americas, according to World Bank data. Mya Guarnieri, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Mar. 2024 Its accident rate dropped from 0.45 accidents per million sectors down to 0.00 in 2023, while the fatality risk dropped from 0.23 in 2022 in 0.00 in 2023. Maureen O'Hare, CNN, 29 Feb. 2024 Number of fatal car accidents involving speeding per 100,000 city residents: 19% of score. Tanya Wildt, Detroit Free Press, 29 Feb. 2024 According to the Associated Press, the nation’s top accident investigator, Jennifer Homendy told a Senate panel in November that multiple close calls between aircraft at U.S. airports in 2023 are largely the result of staffing shortages since the pandemic. Peter Georgescu, Forbes, 29 Feb. 2024 William’s mother, Princess Diana, died in a 1997 car accident while attempting to evade paparazzi in Paris. Kaetlyn Liddy, NBC News, 29 Feb. 2024 The Traffic Investigation Unit is investigating what led to the accident. Amy McDaniel, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 21 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'accident.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, "happening, nonessential property, diseased condition, disturbance (of the mind)," borrowed from Anglo-French, "irregularity, incident, symptom," borrowed from Latin accident-, accidens "chance event, contingent attribute" (translating Greek symbebēkós), from present participle of accidere "to fall down, impinge on, be heard, happen," from ad- ad- + cadere "to fall" — more at chance entry 1

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Time Traveler
The first known use of accident was in the 14th century

Podcast

Dictionary Entries Near accident

Cite this Entry

“Accident.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/accident. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

accident

noun
ac·​ci·​dent ˈak-səd-ənt How to pronounce accident (audio)
-sə-ˌdent
1
a
: an event occurring by chance or from unknown causes
b
: chance entry 1 sense 1
we met by accident
2
: an unintended and usually sudden and unexpected event resulting in loss or injury
an automobile accident

Medical Definition

accident

noun
1
: an unfortunate event resulting from carelessness, unawareness, ignorance, or a combination of causes
2
: an unexpected bodily event of medical importance especially when injurious
a cerebrovascular accident
3
: an unexpected happening causing loss or injury which is not due to any fault or misconduct on the part of the person injured but for which legal relief may be sought
accidental adjective
accidentally adverb
also accidently

Legal Definition

accident

noun
ac·​ci·​dent
: an unexpected usually sudden event that occurs without intent or volition although sometimes through carelessness, unawareness, ignorance, or a combination of causes and that produces an unfortunate result (as an injury) for which the affected party may be entitled to relief under the law or to compensation under an insurance policy see also unavoidable accident

Note: The term accident has been held to include intentional acts (such as an assault and battery) under workers' compensation laws.

accidental adjective
accidentally adverb
also accidently

More from Merriam-Webster on accident

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!