accidental

/ˌæk.sɪˈdɛn.təl/

Say it: ak-suh-DEN-tuhl

1. adjective Happening by chance or without being planned or intended.
The accidental discovery of penicillin changed medicine forever.
2. adjective Occurring as a secondary or nonessential part of something.
The beautiful color of the vase was accidental to its main function of holding water.
3. noun In music, a sign (such as a sharp, flat, or natural) indicating a temporary change from the key signature.
The composer used a surprising accidental to create a moment of tension.

📖 Seen in the wild

Their meeting was purely accidental; they had not planned to see each other.
collected by @vocablast

✏️ accidental in a sentence

The police ruled the death accidental after a thorough investigation.
It was a purely accidental meeting; we hadn't seen each other in years.
An accidental press of a button launched the program before we were ready.
Many of the world's greatest inventions were the result of accidental genius.
She made some accidental contact with the live wire and got a mild shock.
The book's plot hinges on an accidental phone call to the wrong number.
In his notes, he described the finding as 'an accidental but welcome result'.

🔁 Synonyms & antonyms

unintentional inadvertent unintended fortuitous chance unplanned coincidental haphazard

unintentional · focuses on the lack of intention from the person involved.

inadvertent · suggests the accident was caused by carelessness or lack of attention.

unintended · highlights that the outcome was not the one that was planned or desired.

fortuitous · often implies a lucky or fortunate accident.

Opposites: intentional, deliberate, planned, purposeful, calculated

🌱 Where it comes from

The word 'accidental' traces back to the Latin verb 'accidere', meaning 'to happen' or 'befall'. This verb is a combination of 'ad' (to) and 'cadere' (to fall). The original idea was of something that 'falls upon' you unexpectedly, perfectly capturing the modern sense of an unplanned event.

🧩 How it's used

Common patterns:

accidental discoveryaccidental deathpurely accidentalaccidental contactaccidental overdose

While 'accidental' is the go-to word for unplanned events, be careful not to confuse it with 'incidental'. Something 'accidental' happens by chance. Something 'incidental' is minor or secondary to a larger whole, but not necessarily unplanned. For example, incidental expenses on a business trip are small, related costs, not costs you incurred by mistake.

Word family: accident, accidentally

💬 Quick answers

What does accidental mean?

It describes something that happens by chance, without being planned or intended. It can apply to events, discoveries, or actions.

What's the difference between 'accidental' and 'unintentional'?

They are very close synonyms. 'Accidental' often describes the event itself (an accidental fire), while 'unintentional' focuses more on the agent's lack of purpose (an unintentional mistake).

Is 'accidental' a negative word?

Not inherently. While it often describes mishaps, it can also refer to positive or neutral events, like an accidental discovery or an accidental meeting with an old friend.

What is an accidental in music?

An accidental is a symbol like a sharp (♯), flat (♭), or natural (♮) placed before a note. It temporarily alters that note's pitch for one measure, overriding the song's key signature.

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