accidental
ak-sih-DEHN-tl
Accidental (adj) means happening by chance rather than on purpose. Example: “The spilled coffee was accidental, and he apologised straight away.”
adj
1
Happening by chance rather than on purpose.
"The spilled coffee was accidental, and he apologised straight away."
"An accidental press of the button sent the message to everyone."
"The fire was ruled accidental, not the result of arson."
2
Not essential to the basic nature of something; incidental.
"The philosopher argued that the shape of a coin is accidental, while its value is essential."
"Those small differences in wording are accidental and do not change the meaning."
"The color of the box is accidental to its function."
How to use accidental
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishUnintended or happening by chance, rather than planned or essential.
Common pairings
accidental death
purely accidental
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Word forms
- Plural
- accidentals
- Comparative
- more accidental
- Superlative
- most accidental
Fill the gap
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The spilled coffee was _____, and he apologised straight away.
Etymology
From Late Latin accidentalis, based on accident.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for accidental
mental
dental
rental
parental
Oriental
elemental
ornamental
judgmental
incidental
monumental
regimental
incremental
See all rhymes for accidental →
Frequently asked questions
What does “accidental” mean?
The word “accidental” means happening by chance rather than on purpose. In plain terms, unintended or happening by chance, rather than planned or essential.
How do you pronounce “accidental”?
“Accidental” is pronounced ak-sih-DEHN-tl (/ˌæk.sɪˈdɛn.tl̩/ in IPA).
How do you use “accidental” in a sentence?
Here is “accidental” used in a sentence: “The fire was ruled accidental, not the result of arson.”
What is another word for “accidental”?
Words with a similar meaning to “accidental” include circumstantial, incidental, casual, contingent, occasional and fortuitous.
What is the opposite of “accidental”?
The opposite of “accidental” — its antonyms — are inevitable, intentional and impossible.
What part of speech is “accidental”?
“Accidental” is an adjective.
Where does the word “accidental” come from?
The word “accidental” comes from Late Latin. From Late Latin accidentalis, based on accident.
Is “accidental” a common word?
“Accidental” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
What is the difference between "accidental" and "incidental"?
"Accidental" means happening by chance rather than on purpose, describing an event's cause. "Incidental" (also a sense of "accidental") means not essential to the basic nature of something, describing its importance rather than how it happened; the two senses overlap but emphasize different things.
What is the difference between "accidental" and "deliberate"?
"Accidental" describes something that happens by chance rather than on purpose, while "deliberate" describes something done intentionally and with forethought. The two words are near-opposites when describing the cause of an action or event.
Can "accidental" describe a feature rather than an event?
Yes, in its second sense "accidental" means not essential to the basic nature of something, describing a quality as incidental rather than core. This usage is distinct from the more common sense of "happening by chance."
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