Definition of Accident

1. Noun. An unfortunate mishap; especially one causing damage or injury.


2. Noun. Anything that happens suddenly or by chance without an apparent cause. "It was due to an accident or fortuity"
Exact synonyms: Chance Event, Fortuity, Stroke
Generic synonyms: Happening, Natural Event, Occurrence, Occurrent
Specialized synonyms: Hap, Break, Good Luck, Happy Chance, Coincidence, Happenstance, Lottery
Derivative terms: Accidental

Definition of Accident

1. n. Literally, a befalling; an event that takes place without one's foresight or expectation; an undesigned, sudden, and unexpected event; chance; contingency; often, an undesigned and unforeseen occurrence of an afflictive or unfortunate character; a casualty; a mishap; as, to die by an accident.

Definition of Accident

1. Noun. An unexpected event with negative consequences occurring without the intention of the one suffering the consequences. ¹

2. Noun. Any chance event. ¹

3. Noun. Chance. ¹

4. Noun. (context: transport vehicle) An unintended event such as a collision that causes damage or death. ¹

5. Noun. Any property, fact, or relation that is the result of chance or is nonessential. ¹

6. Noun. (context: euphemistic) An instance of incontinence. ¹

7. Noun. (context: euphemistic) An unintended pregnancy. ¹

8. Noun. (context: philosophy logic) A quality or attribute in distinction from the substance, as ''sweetness'', ''softness''. ¹

9. Noun. (context: grammar) A property attached to a word, but not essential to it, as gender, number, case. ¹

10. Noun. (context: geology) An irregular surface feature with no apparent cause. ¹

11. Noun. (context: heraldry) A point or mark which may be retained or omitted in a coat of arms. ¹

12. Noun. (context: legal) casus; such unforeseen, extraordinary, extraneous interference as is out of the range of ordinary calculation. ¹

13. Noun. (context: military) An unplanned event that results in injury (including death) or occupational illness to person(s) and/or damage to property, exclusive of injury and/or damage caused by action of an enemy or hostile force. ¹

14. Noun. (context: uncountable philosophy uncommon) Appearance, manifestation. ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Accident

1. an unexpected or unintentional occurrence [n -S]

Medical Definition of Accident

1. 1. Literally, a befalling; an event that takes place without one's foresight or expectation; an undesigned, sudden, and unexpected event; chance; contingency; often, an undesigned and unforeseen occurrence of an afflictive or unfortunate character; a casualty; a mishap; as, to die by an accident. "Of moving accidents by flood and field." (Shak) "Thou cam'st not to thy place by accident: It is the very place God meant for thee." (Trench) 2. A property attached to a word, but not essential to it, as gender, number, case. 3. A point or mark which may be retained or omitted in a coat of arms. 4. A property or quality of a thing which is not essential to it, as whiteness in paper; an attribute. A quality or attribute in distinction from the substance, as sweetness, softness. 5. Any accidental property, fact, or relation; an accidental or nonessential; as, beauty is an accident. "This accident, as I call it, of Athens being situated some miles from the sea." (J. P. Mahaffy) 6. Unusual appearance or effect. Accident, in Law, is equivalent to casus, or such unforeseen, extraordinary, extraneous interference as is out of the range of ordinary calculation. Origin: F. Accident, fr. L. Accidens, -dentis, p. Pr. Of accidere to happen; ad + cadere to fall. See Cadence, Case. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998)

Lexicographical Neighbors of Accident

accessory symptom
accessory thyroid
accessory thyroid gland
accessory tragus
accessory tubercle
accessory vertebral vein
accessory visual apparatus
accessory volar ligaments
acciacatura
acciacaturas
acciaccatura
acciaccaturas
acciaccature
accidence
accidences
accident (current term)
accident-blackspot
accident-prone
accident and emergency
accident blackspot
accident blackspots
accident neurosis
accident of birth
accident proneness
accident surgery
accident waiting to happen
accidental
accidental abortion
accidental falls
accidental host

Literary usage of Accident

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. Index of Economic Material in Documents of the States of the United States by Adelaide Rosalia Hasse (1907)
"Assessment accident Insurance cos. of other states; exhibit of policies and RI ... Tabular Btmt. of RI business of guarantee, accident, and plate glass cos. ..."

2. Biennial Reportby Vermont Public Service Commission by Vermont Public Service Commission (1904)
"... accident to 198 • Street railway, location of tracks at Center Rutland 41 petition against St. Albans; track construction 53 petition of Burlington; ..."

3. The Catholic Encyclopedia: An International Work of Reference on the by Charles George Herbermann, Edward Aloysius Pace, Condé Bénoist Pallen, Thomas Joseph Shahan, John Joseph Wynne (1913)
"One may even inquire into the genus, species, and specific difference of a metaphysical accident (eg of continued quantity). A. Ptolemaic and Copernican ..."

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