accidently

adverb

ac·​ci·​dent·​ly ˌak-sə-ˈdent-lē 

ˈak-sə-dənt-,

ˈak-sə-ˌdent-

: accidentally

Law enforcement officials said that an unattended candle accidently lit her living room couch on fire.

—Paul Chi

He was turning out of the gateway when he accidently stumbled against a tall man wrapped in a cloak, who was at that moment coming out of the inn door.

—Charles Dickens

Usage of Accidently

The adverb accidently has been in use since the 18th century. It continues to appear regularly in published writing, but it is far less common than accidentally, and it is sometimes cited as an error.

Examples of accidently in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

She was promoted to records supervisor after accidently uncovering evidence of a Nazi plot to assassinate all three allied heads of state. —Oline H. Cogdill, Sun Sentinel, 21 Nov. 2024

Zegler is competent as Juliet, more like a teenager in a sitcom who has to decide what to wear on a date to the malt shop than a girl who has accidently fallen in love with her father’s enemy. —Trish Deitch, Variety, 25 Oct. 2024

In a crazy turn of events, possibly brought on accidently by the brothers themselves, the director of Luke’s (Walker) son Thomas’ (Miles Marthaller, Round and Round) school holiday musical steps down. —EW.com, 18 Oct. 2024

Officials in one northeast Alabama city canceled their Fourth of July fireworks show Thursday after a technician was injured when a shell accidently detonated. —Natalie Neysa Alund, USA TODAY, 5 July 2024

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above