# accident

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈæk.sɪ.dənt/ · frequency rank #1,979

## Definitions
1. An unexpected event with negative consequences occurring without the intention of the one suffering the consequences, and (in the strict sense) not directly caused by humans.
2. An unexpected event with negative consequences occurring without the intention of the one suffering the consequences, and (in the strict sense) not directly caused by humans.
3. A collision or crash of a vehicle, aircraft, or other form of transportation that causes damage to the transportation involved; and sometimes injury or death to the transportation's occupants or bystanders in close proximity. (but see Usage notes)
4. Any chance event.
5. Chance; random chance.
6. Any property, fact, or relation that is the result of chance or is nonessential or nonsubstantive.
7. Any property, fact, or relation that is the result of chance or is nonessential or nonsubstantive.
8. An instance of incontinence.
9. An instance of incontinence.
10. An unintended pregnancy.
11. An unintended pregnancy.
12. An irregular surface feature with no apparent cause.
13. A sudden discontinuity of ground such as fault of great thickness, bed or lentil of unstable ground.
14. A point or mark which may be retained or omitted in a coat of arms.

## Etymology
Etymology tree
Proto-Indo-European *h₂éd
Proto-Italic *ad
Proto-Italic *ad-
Latin ad-
Proto-Indo-European *ḱh₂d-der.
Proto-Italic *kadō
Latin cadō
Latin accidō
Latin accidēns
Old French accidentbor.
Middle English accident
English accident
First attested in the late 14th century. From Middle English accident, from Old French accident, from Latin accidēns, present active participle of accidō (“happen”); from ad (“to”) + cadō (“fall”). See cadence, case. In the sense “unintended pregnancy”, first attested in 1932.

## Easily confused with
- **ancient** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/accident-vs-ancient)
- **accidental** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/accident-vs-accidental)
- **accidently** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/accident-vs-accidently)
- **accent** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/accent-vs-accident)

## Common misspellings (10)
`accdient`, `acciddent`, `accidennt`, `accidentt`, `accidetn`, `accidnet`, `acciednt`, `acicdent`, `acident`, `cacident`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/accident