adv · 5 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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/ˌæk.sɪˈdɛnt(ə)li/
ăk-sĭ-dĕntʹ(ə)lē
US:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
CMU ARPABET:AE2 K S AH0 D EH1 N T AH0 L IY0
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
CMU ARPABET 2:AE2 K S AH0 D EH1 N AH0 L IY0
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
adv
Meaning 1
In an accidental manner; by chance, unexpectedly.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
He discovered penicillin largely accidentally.
For quotations using this term, see Citations:accidentally.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: casually, fortuitously
Antonyms: none provided
2
adv
Meaning 2
Unintentionally.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
He accidentally exposed the bacteria to mold spores.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
adverb
Meaning 3
without advance planning
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
they met accidentally
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: by chance, circumstantially, unexpectedly
Antonyms: deliberately
4
adverb
Meaning 4
without intention; in an unintentional manner
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
she hit him unintentionally
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: unintentionally
Antonyms: deliberately
5
adverb
Meaning 5
of a minor or subordinate nature
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
these magnificent achievements were only incidentally influenced by Oriental models
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: incidentally
Antonyms: none provided
History
Etymology
Etymology tree English accidental Proto-Indo-European *leyg-der. Proto-Germanic *līkąder. Proto-Germanic *-līkaz Proto-Germanic *-ê Proto-Germanic *-līkê Proto-West Germanic *-līkē Old English -līċe Middle English -ly English -ly English accidentally From accidental + -ly.
Across languages
Translations
74 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Armenian:
պատահաբար
(patahabar)
— happening by chance, not necessarily a lucky one
Armenian:
պատահականորեն
(patahakanoren)
— happening by chance, not necessarily a lucky one
Bulgarian:
случайно
(slučajno)
— happening by chance, not necessarily a lucky one
Georgian:
შემთხვევით
(šemtxvevit)
— happening by chance, not necessarily a lucky one
German:
zufällig
— happening by chance, not necessarily a lucky one
German:
durch Zufall
— happening by chance, not necessarily a lucky one
Irish:
de thimpiste
— happening by chance, not necessarily a lucky one
Irish:
de thaisme
— happening by chance, not necessarily a lucky one
Old English:
wēas
— happening by chance, not necessarily a lucky one
Turkish:
kazara
— happening by chance, not necessarily a lucky one
Turkish:
kazaen
— happening by chance, not necessarily a lucky one
Turkish:
ezkaza
— happening by chance, not necessarily a lucky one
Turkish:
yanlışlıkla
— happening by chance, not necessarily a lucky one
Woiwurrung:
ngabenden-ngain'gi
— happening by chance, not necessarily a lucky one
Armenian:
ոչ դիտավորյալ
(očʻ ditavoryal)
— unexpectedly
Armenian:
ակամա
(akama)
— unexpectedly
Belarusian:
выпадко́ва
(vypadkóva)
— unexpectedly
Bulgarian:
случа́йно
(slučájno)
— unexpectedly
Burmese:
မတော်တဆ
(ma.tauta.hca.)
— unexpectedly
Catalan:
accidentalment
— unexpectedly
Chinese Mandarin:
偶然
(ǒurán)
— unexpectedly
Czech:
náhodou
— unexpectedly
Danish:
tilfældigvis
— unexpectedly
Dutch:
toevallig
— unexpectedly
Esperanto:
akcidente
— unexpectedly
Finnish:
vahingossa
— unexpectedly
Finnish:
sattumalta
— unexpectedly
French:
accidentellement
— unexpectedly
Georgian:
მოულოდნელად
(moulodnelad)
— unexpectedly
