accident
/'æksidənt/
Definition
- Noun:
- An unfortunate incident that happens unexpectedly and unintentionally, typically resulting in damage or injury: This is the most common meaning, referring to harmful or undesirable events like crashes or falls.
- An event that happens by chance or without apparent cause: Something that occurs unexpectedly, not planned or foreseen. This can be neutral, positive, or negative.
- Something that is not essential or inherent; a nonessential property or feature: A secondary or incidental characteristic of something.
Examples of Usage
- Noun (Unfortunate Mishap):
- He was injured in a car accident.
- The factory was closed after a serious industrial accident.
- Noun (Chance Event):
- Our meeting was a happy accident.
- The discovery of penicillin was a fortunate accident.
- Noun (Nonessential Feature):
- In philosophy, an 'accident' is a property that a substance can lose without ceasing to be itself. (This usage is more technical.)
Advanced Usage
- "by accident": Happening by chance; unintentionally.
- I deleted the file by accident.
- We met by accident at the airport.
- "accident of birth": The circumstances of one's birth, such as social status or nationality, which are a matter of chance.
- His privilege was merely an accident of birth.
- "accident waiting to happen": A situation that is very likely to lead to an accident or disaster.
- That old wiring is an accident waiting to happen.
Variants and Related Words
- Accidental (adj): Happening by chance or unintentionally; not essential.
- The fire was accidental.
- The beauty of the stone is accidental to its function.
- Accidentally (adv): In an accidental manner; by chance.
- She accidentally spilled her drink.
Synonyms
- Mishap: An unlucky accident (often minor).
- Fluke: A unlikely chance occurrence, especially a surprising piece of luck.
- Fortuity: The occurrence of events by chance in a happy or beneficial way.
- Chance event: An event that occurs without human intention or observable cause.
Related Phrases
- Accident-prone (adj): Having a greater than average number of accidents.
- He's so accident-prone he trips over his own feet.
- Accident and emergency (A&E) (n): The British term for the hospital department treating urgent cases (Emergency Room in American English).
Related Idioms
- A chapter of accidents: A series of unfortunate events.
- Our journey was a complete chapter of accidents.
- Accidents will happen: Said to emphasize that it is inevitable that accidents or mistakes will occur sometimes.
- Don't worry about breaking the glass—accidents will happen.
Noun
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anything that happens suddenly or by chance without an apparent cause
-
winning the lottery was a happy accident
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the pregnancy was a stroke of bad luck
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it was due to an accident or fortuity
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an unfortunate mishap; especially one causing damage or injury
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