accident of birth
noun phrase
: a quality or property due to the circumstances of one's birth
His wealth is a mere accident of birth because he came from a wealthy family.
Examples of accident of birth in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
This would require imagining a new Rwanda that transcended ethnic differences, in which individual endowment, lofty dreams, hard work, and a bit of luck determined one’s fate rather than the accident of birth.
—
Jonathan M. Hansen, TIME, 7 Apr. 2024
Her accident of birth sent so many questions spinning into the air.
—Parul Sehgal, The New Yorker, 22 Jan. 2024
Jonathan M. Hansen, TIME, 7 Apr. 2024
Her accident of birth sent so many questions spinning into the air.
—Parul Sehgal, The New Yorker, 22 Jan. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'accident of birth.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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“Accident of birth.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/accident%20of%20birth. Accessed 27 Apr. 2024.
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