accident

accidentnoun

1. crash or injuryan unexpected event, especially one causing damage or injury, that no one intended

   countable [C]

   • She was hurt in a car accident.
   • There's been an accident on the highway.
   • He broke his arm in a skiing accident.
   • The accident was caused by icy roads.

   Collocations

   adjective + noun a car accident, a serious accident, a minor accident, a tragic accident

   verb + noun have an accident, cause an accident, survive an accident, report an accident

   For translators (sense 1)

   Grammar trap Accident is usually used with have, not make or do: have an accident.

2. by chancesomething that happens without being planned or intended

   countable [C]

   • Meeting her at the airport was a happy accident.
   • It was no accident that he arrived exactly on time.
   • Their friendship began as an accident of timing.

   Collocations

   phrase no accident that

   For translators (sense 2)

   Meaning across languages In many languages, one word can cover both a harmful, unplanned event and a harmless unplanned event; English often uses accident for the harmful kind and coincidence or by chance for a harmless one, though usage is not always so clean.