Engineering English
Accident
Engineering Safety · Last updated: July 30, 2026 · How this entry was written
Definition: An unplanned event that actually results in injury, ill health, death or property damage. It is the subset of unwanted events in which harm has already occurred.
Example in context
“The plant recorded no accident involving lost working days during the last twelve months, but management still reviewed every reported hazard.”
“Tesis son on iki ayda iş günü kaybına yol açan hiçbir kaza kaydetmedi, ancak yönetim yine de bildirilen her tehlikeyi inceledi.”
Where engineers use it
Used in legal reporting, insurance claims and performance statistics. Engineers distinguish it from a near miss because regulators require notification, investigation and compensation procedures whenever actual harm or damage has taken place.
Practice: can you use “Accident” at work?
A worker slips on spilled oil and sprains a wrist, needing two days off. A learner must classify the event, name the reporting duties, and explain the difference from a near miss.
Show a model answer
“The accident caused a minor hand injury and immediate line shutdown.”
“Accident” in 21 languages
| English | Accident |
|---|---|
| Turkish | Kaza |
| French | Accident |
| German | Unfall |
| Spanish | Accidente |
| Chinese | 事故 |
| Arabic | حادث |
| Portuguese | Acidente |
| Russian | Несчастный случай |
| Japanese | 災害事故 |
| Italian | Infortunio |
| Vietnamese | Tai nạn |
| Hindi | दुर्घटना |
| Thai | อุบัติเหตุ |
| Indonesian | Kecelakaan |
| Korean | 재해 |
| Bengali | দুর্ঘটনা |
| Dutch | Ongeval |
| Swedish | Olycka |
| Finnish | Onnettomuus |
| Ukrainian | Нещасний випадок |
Frequently asked questions
What does Accident mean in engineering?
An unplanned event that actually results in injury, ill health, death or property damage. It is the subset of unwanted events in which harm has already occurred. In Engineering Safety, the term carries a usage-frequency rating of 10/10 in the Engineering English library.
How do you pronounce Accident?
Accident is pronounced /ˈæksɪdənt/ (IPA). The Engineering English app plays audio for the term and checks your pronunciation with speech recognition.
How is Accident used in a sentence?
Example from an engineering context: “The plant recorded no accident involving lost working days during the last twelve months, but management still reviewed every reported hazard.”
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