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accidental
[ ak-si-den-tl ]
adjective
- happening by chance or accident; not planned; unexpected:
an accidental meeting.
Synonyms:
Antonyms: ,
accidental benefits.
- Music. relating to or indicating sharps, flats, or naturals.
noun
- a nonessential or subsidiary circumstance, characteristic, or feature.
- Music. a sign placed before a note indicating a chromatic alteration of its pitch.
accidental
/ ˌæɪˈɛԳə /
adjective
- occurring by chance, unexpectedly, or unintentionally
- nonessential; incidental
- music denoting sharps, flats, or naturals that are not in the key signature of a piece
- logic (of a property) not essential; contingent
noun
- an incidental, nonessential, or supplementary circumstance, factor, or attribute
- music a symbol denoting a sharp, flat, or natural that is not a part of the key signature
Derived Forms
- ˌˈԳٲ, adverb
Other Word Forms
- ···ٲ· ··Գ· adverb
- ···ٲ·Ա ···ٲ··ٲ noun
- ԴDz····ٲ adjective noun
- non····ٲ·Ա noun
- ····ٲ adjective
- ·····ٲ adjective
- ܲ·-···ٲ adjective
- ܲ····ٲ adjective
Word History and Origins
Origin of accidental1
Synonym Study
Example Sentences
Santana suffered his latest bout with dehydration months after he took an “accidental fall” in January, which led to the postponement of several shows.
Racing 92's Le Garrec, who has won 10 caps for his country, dropped to the turf clutching his face after a slight and accidental collision with Perpignan prop Bruce Devaux on Saturday.
The rate of accidental drowning in Wales is almost double that of the UK as a whole, according to the National Water Safety Forum.
He died in 2012, at age 54, from an accidental overdose of alcohol and Valium.
Statistics show the majority of wildfires are started by people, including accidental fires from disposable BBQs or controlled burns that get out of hand.
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Related Words
More About Accidental
does accidental mean?
Accidental describes something that happens by chance or without planning, as in The hero has an accidental meeting with the villain early in the movie that sets the hero on his course.
Accidental can also sometimes refer to something that comes about by chance.
Example: We had to sign a contract saying we are aware of the possibility of accidental injury.
Where does accidental come from?
The first records of the term accidental come from around 1350. It ultimately comes from the Medieval Latin Գ. Accident refers to something that happens by chance, often something negative. Adding the suffix –al creates a term that can be used to describe something that happens by chance.
Accidental can also mean nonessential or subsidiary. An example of this is to describe an unexpected benefit you receive, such as your office being near a restaurant you enjoy or when a product you buy comes with extra parts. Those with a musical ear will know that an accidental is a marking on sheet music that indicates whether a note should be played as a sharp, natural, or flat.
Did you know … ?
are some other forms related to accidental?
- accidentally (adverb)
- accidentalness (noun)
- accidentality (noun)
- nonaccidental (adjective, noun)
- nonaccidentally (adverb)
are some synonyms for accidental?
are some words that share a root or word element with accidental?
are some words that often get used in discussing accidental?
How is accidental used in real life?
Accidental is more often used to discuss something negative, like crashes.
I hate taking accidental naps I just sat down and knocked. I woke up and I’m still just as tired as before except now I’m sweaty and I have bed head
— Ethan Dolan (@EthanDolan)
Every iPhone X/XS owner has taken a minimum of 10 accidental screenshots thanks to the phone’s button placement. It’s just part of the experience.
— Marques Brownlee (@MKBHD)
Made accidental eye contact with the very old man next to me and his response was “take a pic it’ll last longer”. If you need me I’ll be in the burn unit after getting roasted by an 80+ year old.
— SARAYA (@RealPaigeWWE)
Try using accidental!
Which of the following is NOT a synonym for accidental?
A. unforeseen
B. deliberate
C. unintentional
D. chance
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