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
   types:

   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

   types:

   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