accident

noun ac·ci·dent \ˈak-sə-dənt, -ˌdent; ˈaks-dənt\

: a sudden event (such as a crash) that is not planned or intended and that causes damage or injury

: an event that is not planned or intended : an event that occurs by chance

Full Definition of ACCIDENT

a : an unforeseen and unplanned event or circumstance

b : lack of intention or necessity : chance <met by accident rather than by design>

a : an unfortunate event resulting especially from carelessness or ignorance

b : an unexpected and medically important bodily event especially when injurious <a cerebrovascular accident>

c : 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 —used euphemistically to refer to an involuntary act or instance of urination or defecation

: a nonessential property or quality of an entity or circumstance <the accident of nationality>

See accident defined for English-language learners

See accident defined for kids

Origin of ACCIDENT

Middle English, from Middle French, from Latin accident-, accidens nonessential quality, chance, from present participle of accidere to happen, from ad- + cadere to fall — more at chance

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to ACCIDENT

Synonyms: casualty, mischance, mishap

Rhymes with ACCIDENT

aliment, Blaenau Gwent, circumvent, compartment, complement, compliment, confident, devilment, diffident, discontent, document, evident, heaven-sent, implement, incident, instrument, Jack-a-Lent, malcontent, nonevent, Occident, ornament, orient, provident, regiment, reinvent, represent, re-present, resident, Saint-Laurent, sediment, self-content, subsequent, supplement

ACCIDENT Defined for Kids

accident

noun ac·ci·dent \ˈak-sə-dənt, -sə-ˌdent\

Definition of ACCIDENT for Kids

: something that happens by chance or from unknown causes and that often causes injury or damage : mishap <an automobile accident>

: ¹chance 1 <We met by accident.>

Medical Dictionary

accident

noun ac·ci·dent \ˈak-səd-ənt, -sə-ˌdent; ˈaks-dənt\

Medical Definition of ACCIDENT

: an unfortunate event resulting from carelessness, unawareness, ignorance, or a combination of causes

: an unexpected bodily event of medical importance especially when injurious <a cerebrovascular accident>

: 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

—ac·ci·den·tal \ˌak-sə-ˈdent-^əl\ adjective