Dictionary
1accidental
adjective ac·ci·den·tal \ˌak-sə-ˈden-təl\
: happening in a way that is not planned or intended : happening by accident : happening as an accident
Full Definition of ACCIDENTAL
1
: arising from extrinsic causes : incidental, nonessential
2
a : occurring unexpectedly or by chance b : happening without intent or through carelessness and often with unfortunate results
— ac·ci·den·tal·ly \-ˈdent-lē, -ˈden-təl-ē\ also ac·ci·dent·ly \-ˈdent-lē\ adverb
— ac·ci·den·tal·ness \-ˈden-təl-nəs\ noun
See accidental defined for English-language learners
See accidental defined for kids
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First Known Use of ACCIDENTAL
14th century
Related to ACCIDENTAL
- Synonyms
- casual, chance, fluky (also flukey), fortuitous, inadvertent, incidental, unintended, unintentional, unplanned, unpremeditated, unwitting
- Antonyms
- calculated, deliberate, intended, intentional, planned, premeditated, premeditative, prepense, set
Synonym Discussion of ACCIDENTAL
accidental, fortuitous, casual, contingent mean not amenable to planning or prediction. accidental stresses chance <any resemblance to actual persons is entirely accidental>. fortuitous so strongly suggests chance that it often connotes entire absence of cause <a series of fortuitous events>. casual stresses lack of real or apparent premeditation or intent <a casual encounter with a stranger>. contingent suggests possibility of happening but stresses uncertainty and dependence on other future events for existence or occurrence <the contingent effects of the proposed law>.
Rhymes with ACCIDENTAL
adjustmental, apartmental, biparental, compartmental, complemental, condimental, continental, departmental, detrimental, documental, excremental, elemental, firmamental, fundamental, governmental, grandparental, incidental, incremental, instrumental, managemental, monumental, nonjudgmental, occidental, oriental, ornamental, regimental, rudimental, sacramental, sentimental, supplemental, temperamental, transcendental
2accidental
noun
Definition of ACCIDENTAL
1
: a nonessential property
2
a : a note foreign to a key indicated by a signature b : a prefixed sign indicating an accidental
First Known Use of ACCIDENTAL
1651
Rhymes with ACCIDENTAL
ACCIDENTAL Defined for Kids
accidental
adjective ac·ci·den·tal \ˌak-sə-ˈden-təl\
Definition of ACCIDENTAL for Kids
1
: happening by chance or unexpectedly <an accidental discovery>
2
: not happening or done on purpose <an accidental shooting>
— ac·ci·den·tal·ly adverb <I broke it accidentally.>
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