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View synonyms for

incident

[ in-si-duhnt ]

noun

  1. an individual occurrence or event.

    Synonyms:

  2. a distinct piece of action, or an episode, as in a story or play.
  3. something that occurs casually in connection with something else.
  4. something appertaining or attaching to something else.
  5. an occurrence of seemingly minor importance, especially involving nations or factions between which relations are strained and sensitive, that can lead to serious consequences, as an outbreak of hostilities or a war:

    border incident; international incident.

  6. an embarrassing occurrence, especially of a social nature.


adjective

  1. likely or apt to happen (usually followed by to ).
  2. naturally appertaining:

    hardships incident to the life of an explorer.

  3. conjoined or attaching, especially as subordinate to a principal thing.
  4. falling or striking on something, as light rays.

incident

/ ˈɪԲɪəԳ /

noun

  1. a distinct or definite occurrence; event
  2. a minor, subsidiary, or related event or action
  3. a relatively insignificant event that might have serious consequences, esp in international politics
  4. a public disturbance

    the police had reports of an incident outside a pub

  5. the occurrence of something interesting or exciting

    the trip was not without incident

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

adjective

  1. postpositivefoll byto related (to) or dependent (on)
  2. whenpostpositive, often foll by to having a subsidiary or minor relationship (with)
  3. (esp of a beam of light or particles) arriving at or striking a surface

    incident electrons

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Other Word Forms

  • c·Գ· adjective
  • ԴDz·c·Գ noun adjective
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Word History and Origins

Origin of incident1

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English, from Middle French, from Medieval Latin incident- (stem of ԳŧԲ “a happening,” noun use of present participle of Latin verb incidere “to fall upon, befall”), equivalent to Latin in- in- 2 + -cid- (combining form of cad- “fall”) + -ent- -ent; cadenza
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Word History and Origins

Origin of incident1

C15: from Medieval Latin incidens an event, from Latin incidere, literally: to fall into, hence befall, happen, from in- ² + cadere to fall
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Synonym Study

See event.
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

Since the incident, the doctor has been inundated with abuse, and the hospital has been targeted by a bomb threat.

From

"Members of our community reported incidents that led them to feel targeted and shunned on the basis of their identities," Dr Garber said.

From

The Turkish military has denied carrying out a strike that day, but a police report seen by the BBC attributes the incident to a Turkish drone.

From

Soon after the incident, the lawsuit states, Stewart-Binks’ contract with Fox was not renewed.

From

Their career was sparked by an incident in which Móglaí and a friend were out spray-painting the day before a march in support of an Irish Language Act.

From

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incidenceincidental