accidental

Everyday

1. Happening by chance, not planned or meant: an accidental fall. tree →
2. (music) A sign such as a sharp or flat added to a note in music. tree →
3. Not essential or not part of the main thing (formal). tree →

In the lessons

In safety lessons accidental injuries are the ones that happen by mistake, such as falls, burns and cuts, and pupils learn how to prevent them. In stories it shows that something was not done on purpose. Phrases: accidental damage, accidental discovery, accidental death, purely accidental.

Examples

• The broken window was accidental — the ball slipped. tree →
• Most accidental poisonings happen at home, so keep cleaning products locked away. tree →
• Penicillin was an accidental discovery. tree →
• It was an accidental tap on the shoulder, not a push. tree →
• The phone insurance covers accidental damage. tree →
• The music has an accidental, a sharp, in bar three. tree →
• Turning from one to another of these accidental illustrations, we by degrees create a mental picture which is not without its peculiar charm. tree →

Note

Adverb: accidentally (note -ally, not "accidently"). Opposite: deliberate, intentional or on purpose. An accidental act can still need an apology.