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accident

/ˈæksədənt/

/ˈæksɪdɪnt/

Other forms: accidents

An accident is an unfortunate event. By their very nature, accidents are not planned. Rear-ending the car ahead of you, spilling milk, losing your footing on an icy sidewalk — all of these are considered accidents.

You will most often hear people use accident to describe an unfortunate mistake, like swerving into oncoming traffic or making a sloppy calculation. However, an accident could have a positive outcome as well: "The invention of the chocolate chip cookie was a happy accident, occurring when the cook decided to add the chopped chocolate to the batter without melting it first."

Definitions of accident
  1. noun
    an unfortunate mishap; especially one causing damage or injury
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    types:
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    collision
    an accident resulting from violent impact of a moving object
    crash, wreck
    a serious accident (usually involving one or more vehicles)
    accidental injury, injury
    an accident that results in physical damage or hurt
    shipwreck, wreck
    an accident that destroys a ship at sea
    casualty, fatal accident
    an accident that causes someone to die
    prang
    a crash involving a car or plane
    fender-bender
    a collision between motor vehicles that produces minor damage
    pileup
    multiple collisions of vehicles
    smash, smash-up
    a serious collision (especially of motor vehicles)
    capsizing
    (nautical) the event of a boat accidentally turning over in the water
    collateral damage
    (euphemism) inadvertent casualties and destruction inflicted on civilians in the course of military operations
    concussion
    injury to the brain caused by a blow; usually resulting in loss of consciousness
    mutilation
    an injury that causes disfigurement or that deprives you of a limb or other important body part
    type of:
    misadventure, mischance, mishap
    an instance of misfortune
  2. noun
    anything that happens suddenly or by chance without an apparent cause
    “winning the lottery was a happy accident
    “it was due to an accident or fortuity”
    synonyms: chance event, fortuity, stroke
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    types:
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    hap
    an accidental happening
    break, good luck, happy chance
    an unexpected piece of good luck
    coincidence, happenstance
    an event that might have been arranged although it was really accidental
    lottery
    something that is regarded as a chance event
    type of:
    happening, natural event, occurrence, occurrent
    an event that happens
Pronunciation
US

/ˈæksədənt/

UK

/ˈæksɪdɪnt/

DISCLAIMER: These example sentences appear in various news sources and books to reflect the usage of the word ‘accident'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Vocabulary.com or its editors. Send us feedback
Word Family
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