Accident — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun /ˈak-sə-dənt/ ac·ci·dent

Meaning & Definition of Accident

Accident (noun)

  1. an unforeseen and unplanned event or circumstance
  2. lack of intention or necessity, chance
  3. an unfortunate event resulting especially from carelessness or ignorance

Accident (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a chance and usually sudden event bringing loss or injury

    "was involved in a minor accident on her way home from work"

    similar: casualty, mischance, mishap
    related: calamity, cataclysm, catastrophe, cropper, deathblow, disaster, tragedy, bummer, knock, misadventure, misfortune, collision, crack-up, crash, smashup, wreck
    near: boon, break, fluke, godsend, miracle, strike, windfall, fortune, luck, serendipity

  2. the uncertain course of events

    "you shouldn't leave it to accident to decide where you'll be lodging in the course of your trip across the country"

    similar: casualty (archaic), chance, circumstance, hap, hazard, luck
    related: fortuitousness, fortuity, haphazardry, randomness, uncertainty, fluke, happenchance, happenstance, destiny, doom, fate, fortune, lot, danger, peril, risk
    near: intent, intention, purpose, design, outline, plan, scheme

Related Entry: Stroke (noun)

Stroke is a different word from Accident. The synonyms below are for stroke, not for accident.

  1. a hard strike with a part of the body or an instrument

    "all it took was one hard stroke to knock the ball out of the tree"

    similar: bang, bash, bat, beat, belt, biff, blow, bop, box, buffet, bust, chop, clap, clip, clout, crack, cuff, dab, douse (British), fillip, hack, haymaker, hit, hook, knock, larrup (dialect), lash, lick, pelt, pick, plump, poke, pound, punch, rap, slam, slap, slug, smack, smash, sock, spank, stinger, stripe, swat, swipe, switch, thud, thump, thwack, wallop, welt, whack, wham, whop
    related: counter, counterblow, counterpunch, counterstroke, body blow, hand, kick, knee, left, one-two, rabbit punch, right, right-hander, roundhouse, shiver, sidewinder, sucker punch, swing, uppercut, cruncher, kayo, knockdown, knockout, KO, bastinado, battering, beating, bludgeoning, clobbering, cudgeling, drubbing, hammering, lambasting, licking, pasting, pounding, pummeling, thrashing, flogging, walloping, whip, whipping

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Accident

The most common words with a similar meaning to Accident:

Archaic: casualty
mischance, mishap, chance, circumstance, hap, hazard, luck

Related Words for Accident

calamity, cataclysm, catastrophe, cropper, deathblow, disaster, tragedy, bummer, knock, misadventure, misfortune, collision, crack-up, crash, smashup, wreck, fortuitousness, fortuity, haphazardry, randomness, uncertainty, fluke, happenchance, happenstance, destiny, doom, fate, fortune, lot, danger

Near Antonyms of Accident

boon, break, fluke, godsend, miracle, strike, windfall, fortune, luck, serendipity, intent, intention, purpose, design, outline, plan, scheme

Origin & Etymology of Accident

Middle English, "happening, nonessential property, diseased condition, disturbance (of the mind)," borrowed from Anglo-French, "irregularity, incident, symptom," borrowed from Latin accident-, accidens "chance event, contingent attribute" (translating Greek symbebēkós), from present participle of accidere "to fall down, impinge on, be heard, happen," from ad- ad- + cadere "to fall" chance:1

First known use: 14th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Accident

Words & Phrases Containing Accident

accident insurance, accident-prone, accident of birth, accident of nature, cerebrovascular accident, industrial accident, no accident

Frequently Asked Questions about Accident

What does "Accident" mean?

"Accident" means an unforeseen and unplanned event or circumstance. As a noun, it is defined as: an unforeseen and unplanned event or circumstance. It has 2 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Accident"?

Other words for "Accident" include casualty, mischance, mishap, chance, circumstance, hap, hazard and luck. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Accident" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Accident"?

There are 40 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Accident". Common alternatives include casualty, mischance, mishap, chance, circumstance, hap, hazard and luck.

How do you use "Accident" in a sentence?

Examples of "Accident" in a sentence: "was involved in a minor accident on her way home from work"; "you shouldn't leave it to accident to decide where you'll be lodging in the course of your trip across the country".

Is "Accident" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Accident" is a noun.

Is "Accident" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As an A2-level word, "Accident" is typical of Cambridge A2 Key (KET), PTE Academic 30–42, TOEIC Listening & Reading 225+.

How do you pronounce "Accident"?

"Accident" is pronounced /ˈak-sə-dənt/ and divided into syllables as ac·ci·dent.

What is the origin of the word "Accident"?

"Accident" comes from Middle English, "happening, nonessential property, diseased condition, disturbance (of the mind)," borrowed from Anglo-French, "irregularity, incident, symptom," borrowed from Latin accident-, accidens "chance event, contingent attribute" (translating Greek symbebēkós), from present participle of accidere "to fall down, impinge on, be heard, happen," from ad- ad- + cadere "to fall" chance:1. First known use: 14th century.