a sudden, unexpected event that hurts someone or damages something
A 10-year-old boy fell off his bike, but the accident only gave him a small scrape.
Firefighters rushed in after an accident caused a small fire in the kitchen.
✦ From Latin accidens, present participle of accidere “to happen”.
a crash between vehicles, especially on the road
A long traffic jam formed after a minor accident on the highway.
The police officer asked witnesses what they saw during the accident.
something that happens without anyone planning or intending it
I met my best friend by accident on the train.
She deleted the file by accident, so we had to start over.
an occasion when someone, especially a child, unintentionally wets or soils their clothes
The toddler had an accident during the long car ride.
Teachers keep extra clothes at school in case a child has an accident.
in a way that happens by mistake or without intending to
Lena accidentally dropped her phone into the swimming pool.
I accidentally sent the email to the wrong person.
✦ Formed from the adjective accidental + the adverbial suffix –ly; first recorded in English in the late 15th century.
