Incident Definition

ĭnsĭ-dənt

incidents

noun

incidents

Something that happens; happening; occurrence.

Webster's New World

A particular occurrence, especially one of minor importance.

American Heritage

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.

Webster's New World

An event in a narrative or drama.

American Heritage

An apparently minor conflict, disturbance, etc., as between persons, states, etc., that may have serious results.

Webster's New World

Synonyms:

adjective

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

The cares incident to parenthood.

Webster's New World

Falling upon, striking, or affecting.

Incident rays.

Webster's New World

Dependent upon or involved in something else.

Webster's New World

Coming or happening accidentally; not in the usual course of things; not in connection with the main design; not according to expectation; casual; fortuitous.

Wiktionary

Liable to happen; apt to occur; befalling; hence, naturally happening or appertaining.

Wiktionary

Synonyms:

Synonyms:
incidental

Antonyms:

Antonyms:
basic

Other Word Forms of Incident

Noun

Singular:

incident

Plural:

incidents

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