An accidental event happens by chance or as the result of an accident, and is not deliberately intended.
The jury returned a verdict of accidental death.
His hand brushed against hers; it could have been either accidental or deliberate.
Synonyms: unintentional, unexpected, incidental, unforeseen More Synonyms of accidental
accidentally (æksɪdentli)adverb [ADVERB with verb]
A policeman accidentally killed his two best friends with a single bullet.
A special locking system means the door cannot be opened accidentally.
Synonyms: unintentionally, casually, unexpectedly, incidentally More Synonyms of accidental
More Synonyms of accidental
accidental in British English
(ˌæksɪˈdɛntəl)
adjective
1.
occurring by chance, unexpectedly, or unintentionally
2.
nonessential; incidental
3. music
denoting sharps, flats, or naturals that are not in the key signature of a piece
4. logic
(of a property) not essential; contingent
noun
5.
an incidental, nonessential, or supplementary circumstance, factor, or attribute
6. music
a symbol denoting a sharp, flat, or natural that is not a part of the key signature
Derived forms
accidentally (ˌacciˈdentally)
adverb
accidental in American English
(ˌæksəˈdɛntəl)
adjective
1.
happening by chance; fortuitous
2.
belonging but not essential; attributive; incidental
3. Music
of an accidental
noun
4.
a nonessential quality or feature
5. Music
a.
a sign, as a sharp, flat, or natural, placed before a note to show a change of pitch from that indicated by the key signature
b.
the tone indicated by such a sign
SYNONYMY NOTE: accidental describes that which occurs by chance [an accidental encounter] or outside the normal course of events [an accidental attribute]; fortuitous, which frequently suggests a complete absence of cause, now usually refers to chanceevents of a fortunate nature; , casual describes the unpremeditated, random, informal, or irregular quality of something[a casual visit, remark, dress, etc.]; incidental emphasizes the nonessential or secondary nature of something [an incidental consideration]; adventitious refers to that which is added extrinsically and connotes a lack of essential connection
Derived forms
accidentally (ˌacciˈdentally)
adverb
Word origin
ME < LL accidentalis: see accident
Examples of 'accidental' in a sentence
accidental
She recorded a verdict of accidental death.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
You may have accidental damage cover on your home insurance.
The Sun (2016)
He pointed out this was not the first time that this theory of accidental death had surfaced.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
You may have accidental damage cover on your household insurance policy to pay for scratches or stains on fabric or leather.
The Sun (2016)
A verdict of accidental death was recorded.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
Verdict : accidental death.
The Sun (2017)
But opponents say it will only increase the risk of accidental shootings.
The Sun (2013)
It is more like an accidental fire which destroys a large factory at an industrial plant.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
You should also consider cover for accidental damage as well as insuring your festive food.
The Sun (2013)
The coroner recorded a verdict of accidental death.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
The inquiry returned a verdict of accidental death.
Jane Dunn ELIZABETH AND MARY: Cousins, Rivals, Queens (2003)
The verdict was she took an accidental overdose.
The Sun (2015)
And accidental fires caused by this phenomenon happen quite often.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
You had not chosen to buy the optional accidental damage cover.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
She recorded that her death had been accidental.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
It is worth noting that not all standard home insurance policies automatically include cover for accidental damage.
The Sun (2015)
He recorded a verdict of accidental death.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Because local rituals include burnt sacrifices, the risk of accidental fires during burials has supposedly increased.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
A large wave was blamed and a coroner recorded a verdict of accidental death.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Have on hand in your store cupboard at least some of the following to ensure that you do not waste time in dealing with accidental spills.
Churchill, Jane (ed.) Collins Complete Books of Soft Furnishings (1993)
Then came an accidental discovery.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Another accidental discovery was penicillin.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
If so, the accidental killing of civilians could be tried in German courts as a war crime.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
In other languages
accidental
British English: accidental /ˌæksɪˈdɛntl/ ADJECTIVE
An accidental event happens by chance or as the result of an accident.
The fire was accidental.
American English: accidental
Arabic: عرضي
Brazilian Portuguese: acidental
Chinese: 偶然的
Croatian: slučajan
Czech: náhodný
Danish: hændelig
Dutch: toevallig
European Spanish: accidental
Finnish: sattumanvarainen
French: accidentel
German: unbeabsichtigt
Greek: τυχαίος
Italian: accidentale
Japanese: 偶然の
Korean: 우연의
Norwegian: tilfeldig
Polish: przypadkowy niezamierzony
European Portuguese: acidental
Romanian: accidental
Russian: случайный
Latin American Spanish: accidental
Swedish: oavsiktlig
Thai: เป็นเหตุบังเอิญ
Turkish: kaza sonucu
Ukrainian: випадковий
Vietnamese: tai nạn
Chinese translation of 'accidental'
accidental
(æksɪˈdɛntl)
adj
意外的 (yìwài de)
1 (adjective)
Definition
occurring by chance or unintentionally
The jury returned a verdict of accidental death.
Synonyms
unintentional
There are moments of unintentional humour.
unexpected
His death was totally unexpected.
incidental
unforeseen
Due to unforeseen circumstances, the show has been cancelled.
unintended
unplanned
unpremeditated
Opposites
planned
,
expected
, deliberate,
designed
,
prepared
,
intended
,
calculated
,
foreseen
,
intentional
2 (adjective)
Definition
occurring by chance or unintentionally
accidental discoveries of literary treasures
Synonyms
chance
He describes their chance meeting as intense.
random
The order of events seemed totally random.
casual
It was just a casual meeting.
unintentional
unintended
unplanned
fortuitous
a fortuitous quirk of fate
inadvertent
The government has said it was an inadvertent error.
serendipitous
It appears to have been a serendipitous discovery made around the year 200.
unlooked-for
This unlooked-for opportunity couldn't be lost.
uncalculated
contingent
Uncertainty is a property of the future rather than a contingent fact.
Additional synonyms
in the sense of casual
Definition
happening by chance or without planning
It was just a casual meeting.
Synonyms
chance,
unexpected,
random,
accidental,
incidental,
unforeseen,
unintentional,
fortuitous (informal),
serendipitous,
unpremeditated
in the sense of contingent
Definition
happening by chance
Uncertainty is a property of the future rather than a contingent fact.