Pronunciation

/ˈɪnˌsɪdənt/

Definitions

• Noun: An event or occurrence, typically one that is unexpected, unplanned, or unwanted, and which may have a negative impact or cause harm. For example: “The car accident was a tragic incident.”
• Noun (legal): A particular action or event that is under investigation, often involving possible wrongdoing or criminal activity. For example: “The police are looking into the theft incident.”
• Verb: To happen or occur, especially unexpectedly or as a minor accompaniment to something else. For example: “Several incidents of plagiarism were noted during the academic year.”

Phrases

• “In the aftermath of the incident”: Refers to the period following an event, particularly when dealing with its consequences.
• “Incident response”: The process of dealing with an unexpected event, especially in IT security where it involves managing and mitigating the effects of a cyber attack.
• “Without incident”: Describes a situation where an event proceeded smoothly and without any problems or issues.

Example Sentences

• Noun: “A fire broke out last night, causing significant damage to the building in what has been described as a major incident.”
• Legal Noun: “The company reported several data breaches to regulatory authorities as separate incidents.”
• Verb: “Despite heavy rain, the parade went ahead incident-free.”

Synonyms

• Event
• Occurrence
• Episode
• Mishap
• Accident
• Affair (in the context of an unexpected event)
• Happening
• Episode (in legal contexts)