accidental

1 of 2

adjective

ac·​ci·​den·​tal ˌak-sə-ˈden-tᵊl 

1

a

: occurring unexpectedly or by chance

an accidental discovery

Their meeting was purely accidental.

b

: happening without intent or through carelessness and often with unfortunate results

The death was ruled accidental.

2

: arising from extrinsic causes : incidental, nonessential

3

of a bird : appearing outside its normal geographic range, migration route, or season

accidentalness

ˌak-sə-ˈden-tᵊl-nəs 

noun

accidental

2 of 2

noun

1

: a nonessential property

2

a

music : a note foreign to a key indicated by a signature

b

: a prefixed sign indicating an accidental

3

: a bird found outside its normal geographic range, migration route, or season : vagrant

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between accidental and incidental?

Accidental describes what was not planned or intended. It means "happening by accident" or "happening as an accident," as in "an accidental discovery" and "an accidental injury." Incidental typically means "happening as a minor part or result of something else," as in "a chapter that is incidental to the novel's plot." For more information read the full article.

Do you say 'on accident' or 'by accident'?

While both "by accident" and "on accident" are used, "by accident" is far more common.

What does 'accident waiting to happen' mean?

The phrase "an accident waiting to happen" refers to a person or thing that is dangerous or unsafe. For example, a very clumsy person and a rickety ladder might both be referred to as "an accident waiting to happen."

Synonyms

Adjective

• casual
• chance
• fluky
• flukey
• fortuitous
• inadvertent
• incidental
• unintended
• unintentional
• unplanned
• unpremeditated
• unwitting

Choose the Right Synonym for accidental

accidental, fortuitous, casual, contingent mean not amenable to planning or prediction.

accidental stresses chance.

any resemblance to actual persons is entirely accidental

fortuitous so strongly suggests chance that it often connotes entire absence of cause.

a series of fortuitous events

casual stresses lack of real or apparent premeditation or intent.

a casual encounter with a stranger

contingent suggests possibility of happening but stresses uncertainty and dependence on other future events for existence or occurrence.

the contingent effects of the proposed law

Examples of accidental in a Sentence

Adjective

an accidental discovery of oil

The timing of the announcement was purely accidental.

The death was ruled accidental.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Starring Jacob Fortune-Lloyd in the lead role, the film charts Epstein’s life as a gay, Jewish maverick who was instrumental in the Beatles’ rise before his death, of an accidental drug overdose, in 1967. —Jazz Monroe, Pitchfork, 12 Dec. 2024

Ryan So, including that a responding officer reported that a detective viewed surveillance footage and determined the firearm discharge was accidental. —Jose R. Gonzalez, The Arizona Republic, 11 Dec. 2024

While closely studying the pieces under a microscope, the team concluded that the burning likely occurred quickly after their deaths and was accidental. —Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 11 Dec. 2024

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel conducted a first-of-its-kind analysis of accidental shootings where children are hurt or killed in Wisconsin, covering 2016 to December 2024. —John Diedrich, Journal Sentinel, 5 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English, borrowed from Anglo-French accidentel, borrowed from Late Latin accidentālis, from Latin accident-, accidens accident + -ālis -al entry 1

Noun

Middle English, borrowed from Medieval Latin accidentālis, noun derivative of Late Latin accidentālis accidental entry 1

First Known Use

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

accidental

1 of 2 adjective

ac·​ci·​den·​tal ˌak-sə-ˈdent-ᵊl 

1

: happening unexpectedly or by chance

an accidental discovery of oil

2

: not happening or done on purpose

an accidental fall

accidentally

-ˈdent-lē 

-ˈdent-ᵊl-ē

adverb

accidental

2 of 2 noun

: a musical note whose pitch is changed (as by a sharp or a flat) from the pitch shown in the key signature