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Incident - Meaning, Definition & English Examples

An incident is an unexpected event or occurrence, often minor but sometimes significant, that disrupts normal activities. It can refer to accidents, conflicts, or notable happenings.

incident

/ˈɪnsɪdənt/ /ˈɪnsɪdənt/

Definition:

An event or occurrence, often minor or unexpected, sometimes involving conflict or trouble.

Synonyms:

event, occurrence, episode, happening, affair

Part of Speech:

noun

Antonyms:

normality, routine

Common Collocations:

major incident, minor incident, isolated incident, report an incident, witness an incident

Derivatives:

incidental, incidentally

Usage Tips:

Use "incident" for unexpected events; avoid for planned activities unless they go awry.

Common Phrases:

without incident, incident report, flashpoint incident

Etymology:

From Latin "incidere," meaning "to happen" or "fall upon."

Examples:

  • 1. The teacher handled the classroom incident calmly.
  • 2. A minor traffic incident delayed our arrival.
  • 3. She reported the strange incident to the police.
  • 4. The meeting proceeded without any incident.
  • 5. He recalled the embarrassing incident years later.

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