Accident vs. Incident-Difference Between With Examples

Certain words are often misused or confused due to their similar nature. “Accident” and “incident” are two such terms that are commonly interchanged.

In this article, we will explore the definitions, distinctions, and grammatical aspects of “accident” and “incident” to understand their true meanings.

Meanings and Examples

Here are meaning of accident and incident explained:

Accident Meaning

Noun: The meanings of Accident are, “An unplanned or unexpected event that results in damage, injury, or harm”.

Accident Examples

1. He had a car accident on his way to work.
2.  The spilled coffee was an unfortunate accident.
3. She slipped and fell down the stairs by accident.
4.  The investigation revealed that the fire was caused by an electrical accident.
5. The child’s injury was purely accidental and not intentional.

  Incident Meaning

Noun: The meanings of Incident are, “An event, often unexpected, that occurs within a larger context”.

Incident Examples

1. There was an incident at the shopping mall involving unruly behavior.
2. The incident on the flight resulted in a delay.
3.  The police responded swiftly to the incident in the city center.
4.  The incident at the concert led to heightened security measures.
5. They documented every incident in the workplace to ensure a safe environment.

Difference between Accident and Incident

Here are the main differences of the words “accident” and “incident” in English:

Criteria	Accident	Incident
Meaning	Unexpected event causing damage or harm	Event occurring within a larger context
Part of Speech	Noun	Noun
Pronunciation	ˈæksɪdənt	ˈɪnsɪdənt
Usage	Unplanned, unexpected	Event within a context

Grammatical Aspects

As Noun

Accident: “Accident” functions solely as a noun.

Incident: “Incident” functions exclusively as a noun.

As Pronoun

Accident: “Accident” is not used as a pronoun.

Incident: “Incident” is not used as a pronoun.

As Verb

Accident: “Accident” does not have a verb form.

Incident: “Incident” does not have a verb form.

As Adjective

Accident: “Accident” does not have an adjective form.

Incident: “Incident” does not have an adjective form.

As Adverb

Accident: “Accident” does not have an adverb form.

Incident: “Incident” does not have an adverb form.

Usage in a Paragraph

While driving home, he witnessed a minor accident between two vehicles at the intersection. He immediately called the police to report the incident. The authorities arrived promptly and handled the situation efficiently. It was fortunate that no one sustained any major injuries in the accident. This incident serves as a reminder for everyone to remain cautious and alert while on the road.