Meaning & Definition of word "Accidental"
Accidental
/ˌeksɪˈdɛntl/
adjective:
- 1. happening by chance or unexpectedly.
- Example: The accidental discovery of penicillin changed the course of medicine.
- 2. not essential; incidental.
- Example: The accidental details in his account were not related to the main argument.
- 3. resulting from an unintentional action.
- Example: Her fall was caused by an accidental slip on the wet floor.
- 4. in music, altering the pitch of a note by a semitone.
- Example: The pianist added an accidental to the score, creating a unique sound.
Etymology
●Latin 'accidens', meaning 'happening' or 'occurring'.
Common Phrases and Expressions
accidental inheritance:
an inheritance received unintentionally or unexpectedly.
accidental tourist:
a person who ends up traveling somewhere by chance or due to unforeseen circumstances.
accidental hero:
someone who becomes a hero by chance rather than intention.
Related Words
accident:
an unfortunate incident that happens unexpectedly and unintentionally.
coincidental:
happening by coincidence; not planned.
fortuity:
a chance occurrence, especially an unexpected one.
Slang Meanings of accidental
Meaning: a mistake that turned out to be positive
● Example Sentence: That accidental text actually set us up on a date!
Meaning: something unplanned that leads to fun
● Example Sentence: We had an accidental adventure when we missed our stop.