# accident

/ˈæksədənt/ (US) · /ˈæksɪdənt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/accident
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. unpleasant event

noun · CEFR A2

something bad that happens that no one intended or planned.

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

- The vase broke by accident when the cat jumped on the table.
- The investigation concluded that the chemical spill was a pure accident caused by a faulty valve rather than human negligence.

### 2. traffic crash

noun · CEFR A2

a crash involving cars, trains, or other vehicles.

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

- There was a bad accident on the motorway, so traffic is moving very slowly.
- Emergency services arrived at the scene of the multi-car accident within minutes to treat the injured passengers.

### 3. chance or luck

noun · CEFR B2

the way things happen without any plan or cause.

For teachers: the unpredictable element of chance in events; randomness.

- It was just an accident of birth that he was born into a wealthy family.
- Their meeting in such a remote part of the world was a remarkable accident of timing.

### 4. bodily mishap

noun · CEFR B1 · Informal

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

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

- The toddler had a little accident because we couldn't find a bathroom in time.
- The nursery school teacher kept a spare set of clothes in case any of the children had an accident during the afternoon nap.

### 5. non-essential property

noun · CEFR C2 · Academic · Formal

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

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

- The colour of the car is just an accident; its speed is what matters.
- In Aristotelian logic, the fact that a man is sitting is an accident of his current state, not an essential part of being human.

### 6. geological feature

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

an unusual shape or break in the ground or rocks.

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

- The miners had to stop work when they hit a geological accident in the rock layer.
- The survey identified several surface accidents that suggested significant tectonic activity in the region's distant past.

## Examples

- He had a small accident on his bike yesterday.
- The police arrived quickly to clear the road after the minor traffic accident blocked two lanes.
- While the discovery appeared to be a happy accident, subsequent analysis revealed that the researchers had been subconsciously following a trail of subtle clues for months.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.