adv

accidentally

ak-sih-DEHNT-lee

adv

By chance or mistake, without intending to.

"I accidentally deleted the file before saving it."

How to Use Accidentally

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishWithout meaning to — by mistake.

Common mistake

The standard spelling is "accidentally," not "accidently" — the misspelling is common but considered incorrect in standard English.

Easily confused with

accidently →

more accidentally comparative, most accidentally superlative

Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.

Can you complete this real example?

I _____ deleted the file before saving it.

From accidental plus the adverb suffix -ly.

adventitiously by accident by chance fortuitously on accident

intentionally deliberately designedly on purpose purposely advisedly by choice by design

accidental intentional purposely deliberately intentionally

ally bally sally Wally dally rally tally pally Lally Cally really orally

adventitiously by accident by chance fortuitously on accident intentionally deliberately designedly on purpose purposely advisedly by choice