Incident meaning

ĭn'sĭ-dənt
The definition of an incident is something that happens, possibly as a result of something else.

An example of incident is seeing a butterfly while taking a walk.

An example of incident is someone going to jail after being arrested for shoplifting.

noun
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noun
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Likely to happen as a result or concomitant; incidental (to)

The cares incident to parenthood.

adjective
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2
Something that happens; happening; occurrence.
noun
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Arising as the result of an event, inherent.
adjective
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1
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The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) defines a computer security incident as a real or potential violation of an explicit or implied policy regarding information. The DHS has five incident types, based on incident outcomes: (1) increased access beyond authorization; (2) information disclosure; (3) information corruption; (4) Denial of Service (DoS); and (5) resource theft. The DHS notes that actual incidents often fall into multiple categories. For example, a Website defacement can involve increased access beyond authorization and information corruption, and a system compromise can involve increased access beyond authorization, information disclosure, and resource theft. U.S. Department of Homeland Security. DHS Organization. [Online, 2004.] U.S. Department of Homeland Security Website. http://www.dhs.gov/dhspublic/theme_ home1.jsp.
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Something that happens as a result of or in connection with something more important; minor event or episode, specif. one in a novel, play, etc.
noun
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A relatively minor event that is incidental to, or related to others.
noun
2
0
An event that may cause or causes an interruption or a crisis.
noun
2
0
In safety, an incident of workplace illness or injury.
noun
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Tending to arise or occur as a result or accompaniment.
adjective
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Related to or dependent on another thing.
adjective
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Falling upon or striking a surface.

Incident radiation.

adjective
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(physics) (of a stream of particles or radiation) Falling on or striking a surface (e.g. "The incident light illuminated the surface.")
adjective
2
1
Coming or happening accidentally; not in the usual course of things; not in connection with the main design; not according to expectation; casual; fortuitous.
adjective
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Liable to happen; apt to occur; befalling; hence, naturally happening or appertaining.
adjective
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(law) Dependent upon, or appertaining to, another thing, called the principal.
adjective
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Falling upon, striking, or affecting.

Incident rays.

adjective
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Something contingent on or related to something else.
noun
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Dependent upon or involved in something else.
adjective
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Something incident to something else.
noun
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Origin of incident

  • Middle English from Old French apt to happen, an incident from Latin incidēns incident- present participle of incidere to happen in- on in–2 cadere to fall kad- in Indo-European roots
    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
  • Recorded since 1412, from Middle French incident, from Latin incidens, the present active participle of incidō (“to happen, befall”), itself from in- (“on”) + -cidō, the combining form of cadō (“to fall”).
    From Wiktionary

Incident Sentence Examples

  • He'd changed since their incident.

  • Nothing more was said about the incident at the barn.

  • It was an incident which did not change her plan.

  • Maybe that incident inspired her dream that night.

  • A memorable incident occurred at one of these meetings.

More sentences →

Related articles

Words near incident in the Dictionary