incident meaning: definition, etymology and quotations

incident

noun

/ˈɪnsɪdənt/ · [ˈɪnsɪdənt] ~ [ˈɪnsɪdn̩t]

Etymology 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”).

An event or occurrence.

She could not recall the time of the incident.
It was an incident that he hoped to forget.

2 more examples

The suspect was released without further incident.
Where else in the world can you pre-order sushi and fondue on some of the trains, travel in family carriages equipped with mini-playgrounds, or use a request stop button at some small stations? Where else can you hear the announcement: "The train at Platform 4 is ten minutes late due to an incident in another country," as I did once at the Swiss station of Spiez?2025 October 15, Vitali Vitaliev, “The recipe for Swiss bliss”, in RAIL, number 1046, page 68:

A (relatively minor) event that is incidental to, or related to others.

An event that causes or may cause an interruption or a crisis, such as a workplace illness or a software error.

Often, Used in apposition An event affecting an aircraft, usually a plane crash.

Derived terms: coincident, critical incident stress management, cyberincident, incidency, incidental, incidentless, incident report, incident room, incident ticket system, nonincident, noodle incident, preincident, seroincident, subincident, vaxident, without incident

incident

adj

Arising as the result of an event, inherent.

No major hazards incident to this job.
It is at this juncture that Toder launches into the familiar and troubling topic of monogamy versus non-monogamy. She outwardly expresses no preference for either option, considering each to hold certain consequences incident to it.1980 December 6, Cindy Rizzo, “Jewish, Lesbian, Feminist, Psychologist, Author—All of the above and more”, in Gay Community News, volume 8, number 20, page 9:

Natural sciences, Physical sciences, Physics Falling on or striking a surface.

Of a stream of particles or radiation

The incident light illuminated the surface.

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

As the ordinary course of common affairs is disposed of by general laws, so likewise men's rarer incident necessities and utilities should be with special equity considered.[1594], Richard Hooker, edited by J[ohn] S[penser], Of the Lawes of Ecclesiastical Politie, […], London: […] Iohn Windet, […], →OCLC, (please specify the page):

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

All chances incident to mans frail life.1671, John Milton, “Samson Agonistes, […].”, in Paradise Regain’d. A Poem. In IV Books. To which is Added, Samson Agonistes, London: […] J[ohn] M[acock] for John Starkey […], →OCLC, page 43:
17th century, Richard Milward, "Preface" to Seldeniana the studies incident to his profession

1 more example

The Vives, like the strangles, is most incident to young horses, and usually proceeds from the same causes, such as catching cold, being over-heated, or over-worked, about the time of shedding their teeth.1816, Richard Lawrence, The complete farrier, and British sportsman, page 245:

Law Dependent upon, or appertaining to, another thing, called the principal.

Mathematics, Sciences In a relation of incidence

The second inequality follows from the fact that all the edges incident with a fixed vertex separate [an arbitrary graph] G.2005, Reinhard Diestel, Graph Theory - Electronic Edition, 3rd edition, page 12:
If there is only one ideal point U and only one ideal line u, then either (i) every point in u is incident with a line in U, or else (ii) no point in u is incident with any line of U.1968, Peter Dembowski, Finite Geometries, page 315: