Word
accidental
Phoneticsac·ci·den·tal, stress on the third syllable
US/ˌæksəˈdɛnəɫ/
UK/ˌæksɪdˈɛntəl/
Definitions
01happening by chance
B1 · Intermediate
adj. happening by chance or by mistake, rather than being planned.
adj. occurring by chance, unexpectedly, or without deliberate intent.
“The police believe the fire was accidental and started in the kitchen.”
“The discovery of the ancient coins was entirely accidental, occurring while the construction crew was digging a trench for new water pipes.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
02music symbol
C1 · Advanced Countable noun Music Technical
n. a symbol like a sharp or flat that changes a note for a short time.
n. a sign placed before a note which alters its pitch by a semitone, independent of the key signature.
“The pianist missed the accidental in the third bar and played a wrong note.”
“The composer used frequent accidentals to create a sense of tonal instability throughout the second movement.”
Usage
The noun refers to the symbol itself (the sharp, flat, or natural sign).
03non-essential property
C2 · Proficiency Countable noun Philosophy Academic · Formal
n. a quality or feature of something that is not necessary for it to be what it is.
n. a property or attribute that is not part of the essential nature of a thing.
“The color of the car is an accidental; it doesn't change the fact that it is a car.”
“In Aristotelian logic, an accidental is a quality that can be changed without the subject losing its fundamental identity.”
Synonyms
Real-World Examples
“Over that period, the laboratory received 274 samples connected to 201 suspected cases of either deliberate or accidental poisoning across the UK, Ireland, and Gibraltar.” “The brief argues that the harms young people face online are not accidental.” Etymology
From Middle English accidental, from Anglo-Norman accidentel, Middle French accidentel, accidental, and their source, Late Latin accidēntālis; corresponding to accident + -al.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
ADJECTIVE
ADVERB
Domains
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C2 ProficiencyIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.8.5–9.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 6.0114–120
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- C2 · Proficiency
- Updated
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