accident
noun
ac·ci·dent
ˈak-sə-dənt 
-ˌdent
-ˌdent
ˈaks-dənt
1
a
: an unforeseen and unplanned event or circumstance
Their meeting was an accident.
b
: lack of intention or necessity : chance
They met by accident rather than by design.
2
a
: an unfortunate event resulting especially from carelessness or ignorance
was involved in a traffic accident
b
medical
: an unexpected and medically important bodily event especially when injurious
a cerebrovascular accident
c
law
: an unexpected happening causing loss or injury which is not due to any fault or misconduct on the part of the person injured but for which legal relief may be sought
d
US, informal
—used euphemistically to refer to an uncontrolled or involuntary act or instance of urination or defecation (as by a baby or a pet)
The puppy had an accident on the rug.
3
: a nonessential property or quality of an entity or circumstance
the accident of nationality
Examples of accident in a Sentence
He was injured in an accident at work.
The accident happened when her car slid on a patch of ice.
Investigators are still trying to determine the cause of the accident.
Their meeting was an accident.
Recent Examples on the Web
The fact that such different sets of circumstances led to very different kinds of accidents, should provide some reassurance to the flying public, with no connective tissue linking one accident to another.
—
Jeffrey Kluger, TIME, 11 Feb. 2025
Just months later, in February 2024, Goldman spoke again to PEOPLE about how a car accident almost left Josephine without a dad.
—Angel Saunders, People.com, 11 Feb. 2025
Blunt force trauma Another leading cause of death of migrants is falling from heights or experiencing car accidents.
—Marni Lafleur, The Conversation, 11 Feb. 2025
In total, there have been 86 reports of accidents from the stoves being turned on accidentally from 2015 through January 2025.
—Abigail Wilt, Southern Living, 10 Feb. 2025
See all Example Sentences for accident 
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Jeffrey Kluger, TIME, 11 Feb. 2025
Just months later, in February 2024, Goldman spoke again to PEOPLE about how a car accident almost left Josephine without a dad.
—Angel Saunders, People.com, 11 Feb. 2025
Blunt force trauma Another leading cause of death of migrants is falling from heights or experiencing car accidents.
—Marni Lafleur, The Conversation, 11 Feb. 2025
In total, there have been 86 reports of accidents from the stoves being turned on accidentally from 2015 through January 2025.
—Abigail Wilt, Southern Living, 10 Feb. 2025
See all Example Sentences for accident
Dictionary Entries Near accident
Cite this Entry
“Accident.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/accident. Accessed 19 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
accident
noun
ac·ci·dent
ˈak-səd-ənt
-sə-ˌdent
1
a
: an event occurring by chance or from unknown causes
b
: chance entry 1 sense 1
we met by accident
2
: an unintended and usually sudden and unexpected event resulting in loss or injury
an automobile accident
Medical Definition
accident
noun
ac·ci·dent
ˈak-səd-ənt
-sə-ˌdent; ˈaks-dənt
-sə-ˌdent; ˈaks-dənt
1
: an unfortunate event resulting from carelessness, unawareness, ignorance, or a combination of causes
2
: an unexpected bodily event of medical importance especially when injurious
a cerebrovascular accident
3
: an unexpected happening causing loss or injury which is not due to any fault or misconduct on the part of the person injured but for which legal relief may be sought
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