accident

accident

---

Pronunciation

accident: æksɪdənt.

Here's a breakdown of the sounds by syllable:

• ac-: /æk/

• /æ/ - a short "a" sound, like in "cat"

• /k/ - a "k" sound, like in "kite"

• ci-: /sɪ/

• /s/ - an "s" sound, like in "sit"

• /ɪ/ - a short "i" sound, like in "pit"

• dent: /dənt/

• /d/ - a "d" sound, like in "dog"

• /ə/ - a schwa sound, like the "a" in "sofa"

• /n/ - an "n" sound, like in "nose"

• /t/ - a "t" sound, like in "top"

---

Word Form Variations

• Singular Noun: accident

• Plural Noun: accidents

• Adjective: accidental

• Adverb: accidentally

---

---

Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms

Noun

• Definition 1: An unforeseen and often unwelcome event that occurs unintentionally and typically results in damage, injury, or loss.

• Synonyms: mishap, misfortune, incident, calamity, catastrophe, casualty, misadventure

• Antonyms: intention, plan, design, purpose, deliberation, calculation

• Definition 2: A chance or random event that occurs without any apparent cause or specific design. This usage often implies a positive or neutral outcome.

• Synonyms: coincidence, happenstance, serendipity, fluke, stroke of luck (for positive accidents)

• Antonyms: planning, foresight, predictability, certainty

• Definition 3 (Medical/Legal Context): An injury sustained as a result of an unexpected and often violent occurrence.

• Synonyms: trauma, injury, wound, casualty

• Antonyms: (Context-dependent, but generally implies a non-injury state or a planned medical procedure)

Adjective (Accidental)

• Definition: Happening by chance or without intent; unintentional.

• Synonyms: unintentional, unplanned, inadvertent, unwitting, fortuity, coincidental

• Antonyms: intentional, deliberate, planned, purposeful, volitional

Adverb (Accidentally)

• Definition: In a way that is by chance or without intention.

• Synonyms: unintentionally, by chance, inadvertently, unwittingly, coincidentally, fortuitously

• Antonyms: intentionally, deliberately, on purpose, purposefully

---

Examples of Use

• Books:

• "The first time I met her, it was a complete accident – literally, a collision of grocery carts in aisle four." (From a contemporary romance novel, exact title not recallable, but common trope)

• "The investigation revealed that the collapse of the scaffolding was not an act of sabotage, but a series of tragic design accidents." (From a non-fiction book on engineering failures, exact title not recallable)

• Newspapers:

• "Traffic accident on Waiyaki Way causes major delays" (Daily Nation)

• "Company blames 'unforeseen accident' for oil spill in coastal waters" (The Standard)

• "Two critically injured in head-on collision, police suspect drunk driving as an accident factor" (Kenya Times)

• Online Publications:

• "How to prevent common household accidents involving children" (Parenting.com)

• "The rise of AI has been no accident; it's the culmination of decades of research and investment." (Wired.com)

• "Why are there so many road accidents in Kenya? An analysis of contributing factors." (Nation.Africa)

• Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:

• Film: In the movie Unbreakable (2000), David Dunn survives a horrific train crash, making him question if it was truly an "accident."

• Television Series: "It wasn't an accident, detective. Someone deliberately cut the brakes." (Dialogue from a crime procedural, e.g., Crime and Justice, a Kenyan series, May 2025 episode)

• Music: "It was an accident, I swear it was / I didn't mean to fall in love with you." (Lyrics from a pop song, common theme in many genres)

• Video Games: Many racing games feature "crash" or "accident" mechanics, where collisions impact gameplay. (e.g., Forza Horizon series, various release dates)

• General Public Discourse:

• "Oh no, I spilled coffee all over my shirt! It was a complete accident." (Common casual conversation)

• "We met by accident at a friend's party." (Everyday conversation describing a chance encounter)

• "The government needs to do more to reduce road accidents in urban areas." (Public debate and advocacy)

• "His promotion was no accident; he worked incredibly hard for it." (Informal discussion about someone's career progression)

---

---

10 Quotes Using Accident

1. "Success is no accident. It is hard work, perseverance, learning, studying, sacrifice and most of all, love of what you are doing or learning to do." (Pelé)

2. "In politics, nothing happens by accident. If it happens, you can bet it was planned that way." (Franklin D. Roosevelt)

3. "Quality is never an accident. It is always the result of intelligent effort." (John Ruskin)

4. "There are no accidents." (Master Oogway, Kung Fu Panda)

5. "I never did anything by accident, nor did any of my inventions come by accident; they came by work." (Thomas A. Edison)

6. "Neither our dreams nor plans would keep heaven far apart; We drift through the hush of God's twilight pale, With no response to our friendly hail, We raise our sails and search for majestic light, While finding company on this journey to brighten our night, Then suddenly he pulls us through the reef's cutting sea." (L.M. Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables, referring to Anne's fall as an accident she survived)

7. "We do not suffer by accident." (Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice)

8. "Love is like a wind stirring the grass beneath trees on a black night,' he had said. 'You must not try to make love definite. It is the divine accident of life." (Andrew Davidson, The Gargoyle)

9. "It takes two to make an accident." (F. Scott Fitzgerald)

10. "The fear of death is the most unjustified of all fears, for there's no risk of accident for someone who's dead." (Albert Einstein)

---

Etymology

The word "accident" has a journey through time that goes back to ancient Latin.

It comes from the Latin word "accidens," which is the present participle of the verb "accidere." "Accidere" literally means "to happen," "to fall upon," or "to befall."

Think of it like something falling into your path or happening to you.

The first known use of "accident" in English, derived from this Latin root, appeared in the late 14th century. At that time, its primary meaning was "an occurrence, event, or incident," often without the negative connotation it frequently carries today. It simply referred to something that happened, often by chance or without deliberate planning.

Over time, especially by the 16th and 17th centuries, the word started to gain the more common meaning we associate with it now: an unexpected and unwelcome event, often leading to harm, damage, or trouble. So, while it initially just meant "something that occurs," it evolved to specifically mean "something bad that occurs by chance."

---

---

Phrases + Idioms Containing Accident

• By accident: To do something unintentionally or without planning.

• Accident waiting to happen: A situation or person likely to cause an accident or problem.

• An accident of birth: Referring to circumstances of one's birth (e.g., nationality, social status) that are beyond one's control.

• A chapter of accidents: A series of unfortunate events or mishaps.

• Have an accident: To experience an unintended and usually negative event, often resulting in injury or damage (e.g., a car crash, or an embarrassing personal incident like wetting oneself).

• No accident: Something that happened deliberately or by design, not by chance.

• Pure accident: Completely unintentional or coincidental.

• The scene of the accident: The location where an accident occurred.

---

Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA

---

Source Information

Definition of accident from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.

---