n.
- an unfortunate incident that happens unexpectedly and unintentionally.
- something that happens by chance or without apparent cause.
▸chance:
we met by accident.
- Philosophy a property of a thing which is not essential to its nature.
Etymology
ME (in the sense ‘an event’): via OFr. from L. accident-, accidere, from ad- ‘towards, to’ + cadere ‘to fall’.