B2 adjective Neutre

accidental

/ˌæksɪˈdentl/

Describes something that happens by chance, unintentionally, or unexpectedly rather than by design. It is used to qualify events or actions that were not planned or intended by the person involved.

Exemples

3 sur 5
1

I made an accidental deletion of my favorite photos while trying to clear space.

I unintentionally deleted my favorite photos while trying to clear space.

2

The release of the sensitive data was deemed accidental by the investigating committee.

The committee concluded that the sensitive data was released without intent.

3

Sorry I bumped into you, it was totally accidental!

I apologize for bumping into you; I did not mean to do it.

Famille de mots

Nom
accident
Adverbe
accidentally
Adjectif
accidental
Apparenté
accidentality
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Astuce mémo

Think of an 'accident'. If you have an accident, you didn't do it on purpose; therefore, the action was 'accidental'.

Quiz rapide

The scientist made an _______ discovery while looking for a way to improve battery life.

Correct !

La bonne réponse est : accidental

Exemples

1

I made an accidental deletion of my favorite photos while trying to clear space.

everyday

I unintentionally deleted my favorite photos while trying to clear space.

2

The release of the sensitive data was deemed accidental by the investigating committee.

formal

The committee concluded that the sensitive data was released without intent.

3

Sorry I bumped into you, it was totally accidental!

informal

I apologize for bumping into you; I did not mean to do it.

4

The accidental discovery of penicillin changed the course of modern medical history.

academic

The chance discovery of penicillin significantly altered medical history.

5

The company incurred accidental costs due to a minor logistical error in the supply chain.

business

The business faced unexpected costs because of a small mistake in logistics.

Famille de mots

Nom
accident
Adverbe
accidentally
Adjectif
accidental
Apparenté
accidentality

Collocations courantes

accidental death a death caused by an unexpected event
accidental damage damage caused by chance or mistake
accidental discovery finding something without looking for it
accidental discharge the unintentional release of a substance or weapon
accidental meeting running into someone without planning to

Phrases Courantes

purely accidental

completely by chance without any intent

accidental hero

someone who becomes a hero by being in a specific situation by chance

accidental death and dismemberment

a specific type of insurance policy coverage

Souvent confondu avec

accidental vs incidental

Accidental means happening by chance/without intent, whereas incidental means happening as a minor or secondary consequence of something else.

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Notes d'usage

The word is primarily used to describe events that lack intent. In writing, it is considered more formal than the phrase 'by mistake'.

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Erreurs courantes

Learners often use the noun 'accident' as an adjective, saying 'it was an accident discovery' instead of the correct 'accidental discovery'.

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Astuce mémo

Think of an 'accident'. If you have an accident, you didn't do it on purpose; therefore, the action was 'accidental'.

📖

Origine du mot

From the Late Latin 'accidentalem', derived from 'accidere', meaning 'to happen' or 'to fall upon'.

Modèles grammaticaux

Usually precedes a noun (attributive use). Can be used after linking verbs like 'to be' or 'seem'.
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Contexte culturel

In many Western legal and insurance systems, 'accidental' is a specific classification used to determine liability or payouts.

Quiz rapide

The scientist made an _______ discovery while looking for a way to improve battery life.

Correct !

La bonne réponse est : accidental

Mots lis

to

A1

Used to indicate the place, person, or thing that someone or something moves toward. It can also mark the recipient of an action or the limit of a range.

and

A1

A primary conjunction used to connect words, phrases, or clauses that are grammatically equal. It indicates addition, a sequence of events, or a relationship between two things.

a

A1

A word used before a singular noun that is not specific or is being mentioned for the first time. It is used only before words that begin with a consonant sound to indicate one of something.

that

A1

This word is a demonstrative pronoun used to indicate a specific person, object, or idea that is further away in space or time from the speaker. It is also used to refer back to something that has already been mentioned or to introduce a clause that identifies something.

I

A1

The pronoun 'I' is used by a speaker or writer to refer to themselves as the subject of a verb. It is the first-person singular subject pronoun in English and is always capitalized regardless of its position in a sentence.

for

A1

Used to show who is intended to have or use something, or to explain the purpose or reason for an action. It is also frequently used to indicate a specific duration of time.

not

A1

A function word used to express negation or denial. It is primarily used to make a sentence or phrase negative, often following an auxiliary verb or the verb 'to be'.

with

A1

A preposition used to indicate that people or things are together, in the same place, or performing an action together. It can also describe the instrument used to perform an action or a characteristic that someone or something has.

he

A1

A pronoun used to refer to a male person or animal that has already been mentioned or is easily identified. It functions as the subject of a sentence.

you

A1

Used to refer to the person or people that the speaker is addressing. It is the second-person pronoun used for both singular and plural subjects and objects.

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