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📕 rednote ID(小红书号)：3881567312

Accident Definition, Usage, and Examples (2 meaning)

Meaning 1：mishap (accident)

accident 🔊

/ˈæksɪdənt/

A sudden and unwanted event that causes damage or injury, often not planned.

Car accident scene on wet city street with traffic cones

mishap 🔊

➕

/ˈmɪshæp/

An unplanned event that results in damage, injury, or loss, often involving vehicles or machinery.

📁 Category：Transportation & Travel 🔖 Level：intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

From Latin 'accidere' (ad- 'to' + cadere 'fall'), meaning 'fall upon' or 'happen'.

💡 Mnemonic

Think 'ax + dent' — an ax hitting a car leaves a dent, causing an accident.

📖 Example

I was late for work because there was a car accident on the highway. 🔊 I was late for work because there was a car accident on the highway.

🔗 Collocations

car accident – a collision involving one or more vehicles

accident scene – the location where an accident occurred

fatal accident – an accident resulting in death

🔄 Synonyms

crash (n.) – a violent collision, especially of vehicles

collision (n.) – an instance of one moving object striking another

wreck (n.) – a vehicle or building that has been destroyed or badly damaged

🚫 Antonyms

deliberate action (n.) – an intentional act

safety (n.) – the condition of being protected from danger

🌱 Derivatives

accidental (adj.) – happening by chance; unintentional

accidentally (adv.) – by chance; in an accidental manner

accident-prone (adj.) – more likely to have accidents than usual

📖 Cultural Story

Derived from Latin 'accidens' (happening) via Old French. Originally referred to any unexpected event, later narrowed to unfortunate incidents in the 15th century.

Meaning 2：coincidence (accident)

accident 🔊

/ˈæksɪdənt/

Something that happens by chance, without planning, often leading to a surprising or lucky result.

Hands lifting old book in bookstore sunlight discovery

coincidence 🔊

➕

/kəʊˈɪnsɪdəns/

Something that happens by chance, without being planned or expected, often leading to a surprising or beneficial outcome.

📁 Category：Culture & History 🔖 Level：intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Example

The famous scientist made his great discovery almost by accident while trying to solve a different problem. 🔊 The famous scientist made his great discovery almost by accident while trying to solve a different problem.

🔗 Collocations

by accident – unintentionally; by chance

pure accident – something that happens completely by chance

happy accident – a fortunate coincidence that leads to a good result

🔄 Synonyms

chance (n.) – the occurrence of events without apparent cause

serendipity (n.) – the occurrence of events by chance in a happy or beneficial way

fluke (n.) – an unlikely chance occurrence, especially a fortunate one

🚫 Antonyms

intention (n.) – a thing intended; an aim or plan

design (n.) – a plan or drawing produced to show the look and function of something

🌱 Derivatives

accidental (adj.) – occurring by chance

accidentally (adv.) – by chance; unintentionally