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accident

n.
US //ˈæksədənt// UK //ˈæksɪdənt// ac·ci·dent
  1. 1 unpleasant event (n.)
    A2 Elementary

    something bad that happens that no one intended or planned.

    an unexpected and undesirable event, especially one resulting in damage or harm, occurring without specific intent.

    Example

    The vase broke by accident when the cat jumped on the table.

    Example

    The investigation concluded that the chemical spill was a pure accident caused by a faulty valve rather than human negligence.
  2. 2 traffic crash (n.)
    A2 Elementary

    a crash involving cars, trains, or other vehicles.

    a collision involving one or more vehicles, typically resulting in mechanical damage or personal injury.

    Example

    There was a bad accident on the motorway, so traffic is moving very slowly.

    Example

    Emergency services arrived at the scene of the multi-car accident within minutes to treat the injured passengers.
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  1. 3 chance or luck (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    the way things happen without any plan or cause.

    the unpredictable element of chance in events; randomness.

    Example

    It was just an accident of birth that he was born into a wealthy family.

    Example

    Their meeting in such a remote part of the world was a remarkable accident of timing.
  2. 4 bodily mishap (n.)
    B1 Intermediate Informal

    a polite way to say someone accidentally went to the toilet in their clothes.

    a euphemism for an instance of urinary or faecal incontinence, especially regarding children or the elderly.

    Example

    The toddler had a little accident because we couldn't find a bathroom in time.

    Example

    The nursery school teacher kept a spare set of clothes in case any of the children had an accident during the afternoon nap.
  3. 5 non-essential property (n.)
    C2 Proficiency Academic Formal

    a quality of something that is not its most important part.

    an attribute or property of a thing that is not essential to its nature or existence.

    Example

    The colour of the car is just an accident; its speed is what matters.

    Example

    In Aristotelian logic, the fact that a man is sitting is an accident of his current state, not an essential part of being human.
  4. 6 geological feature (n.)
    C2 Proficiency Technical Science

    an unusual shape or break in the ground or rocks.

    an irregular surface feature or a sudden discontinuity in the ground, such as a fault.

    Example

    The miners had to stop work when they hit a geological accident in the rock layer.

    Example

    The survey identified several surface accidents that suggested significant tectonic activity in the region's distant past.
Origin

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h₂éd Proto-Italic *ad Proto-Italic *ad- Latin ad- Proto-Indo-European *ḱh₂d-der. Proto-Italic *kadō Latin cadō Latin accidō Latin accidēns Old French accidentbor. Middle English accident English accident First attested in the late 14th century. From Middle English accident, from Old French accident, from Latin accidēns, present active participle of accidō (“happen”); from ad (“to”) + cadō (“fall”). See cadence, case. In the sense “unintended pregnancy”, first attested in 1932.

Word family
Idioms3 entries

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