incident
Pluralincidents
Pluralincidents
- 1Something that happens, often something unusual or a little bad.
Like a single moment in your day that stands out enough to tell someone about.
The whole class talked about the strange incident for days.
Nobody got hurt in the small incident at the park.
UsageWithout incident means nothing went wrong. Incidence is a different word: how often something happens.
- 2Something that goes wrong and may stop work or cause problems, like an illness at work or a computer error.
Like a sudden problem that makes everyone drop what they are doing and deal with it.
The team logged the incident and started fixing the server right away.
After the incident at the factory, work stopped for almost an hour.
UsageOften in report an incident and a major incident.
Similardisruption
- 3In flying, an event that puts a plane's safety at risk but is not serious enough to count as an accident.
Like a serious accident, but happening to a plane in the air.
The plane landed safely, but the pilots still reported the incident to safety officials.
Two planes flew too close together, and the airport looked into the incident.
Less common meanings
- 4Falling onto or hitting a surface, like light hitting a mirror.
Like a ball thrown at a wall, just before it bounces back.
The incident light bounced off the shiny glass.
Scientists measured the incident beam as it struck the panel.
UsageUse it before a noun (incident light) or after one with on: light incident on glass.
Similarincoming
Note
- 5Likely to come with something or happen because of it, as in 'the risks incident to the job'.
Like getting sore after a long walk: it comes naturally with the effort.
The risks incident to the job were explained on the first day.
Tiredness is incident to long shifts at the hospital.
UsageIt comes after the word it describes: the risks incident to the job.
Note
- 6Happening by chance, not as part of the main plan.
As the ordinary course of common affairs is disposed of by general laws, so likewise men's rarer incident necessities and utilities should be with special equity considered.
1594, Richard Hooker, Of the Lawes of Ecclesiastical PolitieSimilaraccidental, fortuitous, incidental, unplanned
Oppositedeliberate, intentional, planned
Note
- 7In law, belonging to or depending on a more important thing.
- 8In math, touching or passing through a point or line.
Showing meanings only.
Practice
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Origin
From Latin, from a word meaning "to happen or fall upon," made from "in-" (on) and "cadō" (to fall). It came into English through French around 1412.
Checked 7 Nov 2026 · 4 facts
- The word derives ultimately from Latin. en.wiktionary.org
- The Latin source verb means to happen or fall upon. en.wiktionary.org
- The Latin verb combines in- meaning on with cadō meaning to fall. en.wiktionary.org
- The word entered English through French around 1412. en.wiktionary.org