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accident vs incident

Both 'accident' and 'incident' are correct, but they are used in different contexts. 'Accident' is typically used to refer to an unexpected event that causes harm or damage, while 'incident' is a broader term that can refer to any event or occurrence. The choice between the two depends on the specific situation being described.

Last updated: March 17, 2024

accident

The word 'accident' is commonly used to refer to an unexpected event that causes harm or damage.

Use 'accident' when referring to an unexpected event that causes harm or damage, such as a car accident or a workplace accident.

Examples:

He had an accident on the way to work.
The plane crash was a tragic accident.
She slipped and fell, but it was just an accident.
The chemical spill was an accident waiting to happen.
The investigation revealed that it was a genuine accident.

Show examples from the web [+]

No, this was definitely no accident.
My wife and daughter had an accident.
Your journey here was no accident.
Lady Polly staged another "accident".
Her accident actually pulled our group together.
David had some sort of snowmobile accident.
She was kind of a happy accident.
I heard Toby Cavanaugh had a bad accident.
A mining accident in Upper Egypt.
An accident is not the worst trouble.
Construction accident, 6248 South Francisco.
Our accident got him pretty upset.
He stopped posting after our accident.
I started taking the pills after the elevator accident.
Traffic accident, university village marketplace.
- Losing focus caused your accident at work.
Someone had an accident and went home.
There was an accident in Maine.
Diana thinks it was an accident.
Laura was responsible for Tony's accident.

Alternatives:

mishap
mishappening
mishap occurrence
mishap event
unintentional event

incident

The word 'incident' is a broader term that can refer to any event or occurrence.

Use 'incident' when referring to any event or occurrence, whether significant or minor, such as a traffic incident, a workplace incident, or a security incident.

Examples:

There was an incident at the construction site yesterday.
The incident led to a heated argument between the two colleagues.
The police are investigating the incident at the bank.
The incident was captured on CCTV cameras.
She reported the incident to her supervisor.

Show examples from the web [+]

1375-1425; late Middle English < Middle French < Medieval Latin incident- (stem of incidēns a happening, noun use of present participle of Latin incidere to ...
We just want to put that embarrassing incident behind us. Two people were shot yesterday in two separate incidents. Aside from a few isolated incidents, the ...
Recorded since 1412, from Middle French incident, from Latin incidens, the present active participle of incidō (“to happen, befall”), itself from in- (“on”) + - cidō, ...
Physics Falling upon or striking a surface: incident radiation. [Middle English, from Old French, apt to happen, an incident, from Latin incidēns, incident-, present ...

Alternatives:

event
occurrence
situation
happening
episode

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