# incident

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈɪn.sɪ.dənt/ · frequency rank #2,795

## Definitions
1. An event or occurrence.
2. A (relatively minor) event that is incidental to, or related to others.
3. An event that causes or may cause an interruption or a crisis, such as a workplace illness or a software error.
4. An event that causes or may cause an interruption or a crisis, such as a workplace illness or a software error.

## Etymology
Recorded since 1412, from Middle French incident, from Latin incidens, the present active participle of incidō (“to happen, befall”), itself from in- (“on”) + -cidō, the combining form of cadō (“to fall”).

## Easily confused with
- **indigent** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/incident-vs-indigent)
- **incidents** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/incident-vs-incidents)
- **incidental** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/incident-vs-incidental)
- **incidence** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/incidence-vs-incident)

## Common misspellings (12)
`icnident`, `inccident`, `incdient`, `inciddent`, `incidennt`, `incidentt`, `incidetn`, `incidnet`, `inciednt`, `inicdent`, `inncident`, `nicident`

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