ac·ci·den·tal
ˌak-sə-ˈden-tᵊl 
1
a
: occurring unexpectedly or by chance
an accidental discovery
Their meeting was purely accidental.
b
: happening without intent or through carelessness and often with unfortunate results
The death was ruled accidental.
2
: arising from extrinsic causes : incidental, nonessential
3
of a bird
: appearing outside its normal geographic range, migration route, or season
1
: a nonessential property
2
a
music
: a note foreign to a key indicated by a signature
b
: a prefixed sign indicating an accidental
3
: a bird found outside its normal geographic range, migration route, or season : vagrant
Synonyms
Examples of accidental in a Sentence
Adjective
an accidental discovery of oil
The timing of the announcement was purely accidental.
The death was ruled accidental.
Recent Examples on the Web
Katie Moore, Kansas City Star, 26 Apr. 2024
It’s been a Hollywood favorite since debuting in 2021, with Kristen Stewart being one of the Lip Locket’s main accidental ambassadors.
—Anna Tingley, Variety, 25 Apr. 2024
Aurora police is investigating the death as accidental, Longshore said.
—Saja Hindi, The Denver Post, 22 Apr. 2024
The event is hosted by the city of Chula Vista Office of Sustainability, Chula Vista Police Department and U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration to reduce accidental poisonings, misuse and abuse of old outdated medications.
—Linda McIntosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Apr. 2024
This is ultra important because neglect in doing so can result in an accidental house fire.
—Ella Gonzales, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 17 Apr. 2024
Delevingne has done a masterful job keeping the accidental L hidden from public view over the last few months, either by wearing sleeves or long gloves over the error, or simply by posing with her left arm away from the camera.
—Marci Robin, Allure, 15 Apr. 2024
Four of the shootings were accidental and four were escalations of disputes.
—L. M. Boyd, The Arizona Republic, 15 Apr. 2024
Hurt shifted the subject to another family whose daughter was killed in an accidental shooting committed by a man who migrated illegally from Mexico.
—James Rainey, Los Angeles Times, 12 Apr. 2024
Conor Murray, Forbes, 18 Jan. 2023
Authorities arrested her boyfriend before declaring the death accidental.
—Andrew Mark Miller, Fox News, 13 Jan. 2023
Authorities ultimately ruled the death accidental, noting that Jenkins was intoxicated and died of hypothermia, according to NBC New York affiliate WNBC.
—Char Adams, NBC News, 22 Nov. 2022
The Nevada County Sheriff's Office said in a statement the coroner ruled Rodni's death accidental.
—CBS News, 14 Oct. 2022
Lansbury was also determined that her own role as the author-cum-accidental detective Jessica Fletcher wasn’t warped by the sexist stereotypes that writers often fell back on.
—Holly Thomas, CNN, 14 Oct. 2022
Though authorities initially considered the death accidental, the autopsy report later led investigators to believe that Kathleen died not after a fall but after being attacked.
—Kelsie Gibson, PEOPLE.com, 5 May 2022
The county sheriff ruled Rishell’s death accidental, and her family had remained close with Harold.
—Rachel Monroe, Outside Online, 16 Oct. 2018
After Saget's family shared their statement, the medical examiner also released their findings, ruling Saget's death accidental.
—Greta Bjornson, PEOPLE.com, 16 Feb. 2022
Adjective
At least one child has died in an accidental shooting.
—Katie Moore, Kansas City Star, 26 Apr. 2024
It’s been a Hollywood favorite since debuting in 2021, with Kristen Stewart being one of the Lip Locket’s main accidental ambassadors.
—Anna Tingley, Variety, 25 Apr. 2024
Aurora police is investigating the death as accidental, Longshore said.
—Saja Hindi, The Denver Post, 22 Apr. 2024
The event is hosted by the city of Chula Vista Office of Sustainability, Chula Vista Police Department and U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration to reduce accidental poisonings, misuse and abuse of old outdated medications.
—Linda McIntosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Apr. 2024
This is ultra important because neglect in doing so can result in an accidental house fire.
—Ella Gonzales, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 17 Apr. 2024
Delevingne has done a masterful job keeping the accidental L hidden from public view over the last few months, either by wearing sleeves or long gloves over the error, or simply by posing with her left arm away from the camera.
—Marci Robin, Allure, 15 Apr. 2024
Four of the shootings were accidental and four were escalations of disputes.
—L. M. Boyd, The Arizona Republic, 15 Apr. 2024
Hurt shifted the subject to another family whose daughter was killed in an accidental shooting committed by a man who migrated illegally from Mexico.
—James Rainey, Los Angeles Times, 12 Apr. 2024
Noun
Ana Walshe’s former home in Cohasset burned down in a fire on Saturday night, though investigators deemed the fire accidental, CBS News Boston reported.
—Conor Murray, Forbes, 18 Jan. 2023
Authorities arrested her boyfriend before declaring the death accidental.
—Andrew Mark Miller, Fox News, 13 Jan. 2023
Authorities ultimately ruled the death accidental, noting that Jenkins was intoxicated and died of hypothermia, according to NBC New York affiliate WNBC.
—Char Adams, NBC News, 22 Nov. 2022
The Nevada County Sheriff's Office said in a statement the coroner ruled Rodni's death accidental.
—CBS News, 14 Oct. 2022
Lansbury was also determined that her own role as the author-cum-accidental detective Jessica Fletcher wasn’t warped by the sexist stereotypes that writers often fell back on.
—Holly Thomas, CNN, 14 Oct. 2022
Though authorities initially considered the death accidental, the autopsy report later led investigators to believe that Kathleen died not after a fall but after being attacked.
—Kelsie Gibson, PEOPLE.com, 5 May 2022
The county sheriff ruled Rishell’s death accidental, and her family had remained close with Harold.
—Rachel Monroe, Outside Online, 16 Oct. 2018
After Saget's family shared their statement, the medical examiner also released their findings, ruling Saget's death accidental.
—Greta Bjornson, PEOPLE.com, 16 Feb. 2022
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'accidental.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Dictionary Entries Near accidental
Cite this Entry
“Accidental.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/accidental. Accessed 2 May. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
accidental
1 of 2 adjective
ac·ci·den·tal
ˌak-sə-ˈdent-ᵊl
1
: happening unexpectedly or by chance
an accidental discovery of oil
2
: not happening or done on purpose
an accidental fall
accidental
2 of 2 noun
: a musical note whose pitch is changed (as by a sharp or a flat) from the pitch shown in the key signature
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