Incident

/ˈɪn.sɪ.dənt/

Meaning & Definition

noun
An event or occurrence, especially one of minor importance.
The fire department responded to an incident at the local high school.
An unexpected and usually unpleasant event.
There was a security incident that led to the evacuation of the building.
An occurrence or event that interrupts normal operation.
The IT team is investigating a network incident that has affected several users.
A situation that involves conflict or danger.
The incident on the highway caused major traffic delays.
A formal report of an event, usually one that requires response or investigation.
The police filed an incident report after the car accident.

Etymology

From Latin 'incidens', meaning 'falling upon, happening'.

Common Phrases and Expressions

incident report:
A formal report detailing an incident, often used in workplaces or law enforcement.
major incident:
An event of broad or critical importance, often requiring extensive response.
incident command:
A structure for managing emergency responses effectively.

Related Words

Slang Meanings

A bad situation or mishap.
That party was a total incident.
Something chaotic or out of control.
The concert turned into an incident when the crowd got wild.