Recorded since 1412, from , from , the present active participle of incidō ("to happen, befall"), itself from in- ("on") + -cidō, the combining form of cadō ("to fall").

• IPA: /ˈɪn.sɪ.dənt/

incident (plural incidents)

1. (countable, uncountable) An event or occurrence.

   She could not recall the time of the incident.

   It was an incident that he hoped to forget.

   The suspect was released without further incident.

2. A (relatively minor) event that is incidental to, or related to others.
3. An event that causes or may cause an interruption or a crisis, such as a workplace illness or a software error.

• French: incident
• German: Vorfall, Begebenheit, Ereignis, Geschehnis, Vorkommnis, Episode
• Italian: accaduto
• Portuguese: incidente
• Russian: происше́ствие
• Spanish: incidente

• German: Nebeneffekt, Ereignisfall, Nebenumstand, Nebensache, Nebenfolge, Folge, Verpflichtung, Nebenhandlung

• German: Vorfall, Störfall (technical), Ereignis, Zwischenfall, Affäre, Fehler
• Italian: imprevisto, inconveniente, incidente, anomalia
• Russian: происше́ствие
• Spanish: insuceso

incident (not comparable)

1. Arising as the result of an event, inherent.
2. (physics, of a stream of particles or radiation) Falling on or striking a surface.

   The incident light illuminated the surface.

3. Coming or happening accidentally; not in the usual course of things; not in connection with the main design; not according to expectation; casual; fortuitous.
   • 1594–1597, Richard Hooker, edited by J[ohn] S[penser], Of the Lawes of Ecclesiastical Politie, […], London: […] Will[iam] Stansby [for Matthew Lownes], published 1611, →OCLC ↗, (please specify the page):

     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.

4. Liable to happen; apt to occur; befalling; hence, naturally happening or appertaining.
   • 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 ↗:

     All chances incident to mans frail life.

   • 17th century, Richard Milward, "Preface" to Seldeniana

     the studies incident to his profession

   • 1816, Richard Lawrence, The complete farrier, and British sportsman, page 245:

     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.

5. (legal) Dependent upon, or appertaining to, another thing, called the principal.

• German: verbunden, zusammenhängend, inhärent, anhaftend, dazugehörend, inherent, folgend, zugehörig, gehörend zu
• Russian: свойственный

• German: einfallend, auftreffend
• Russian: падающий