accidental

3 definitions • 4 examples

happening or existing by chance:

Reports suggest that eleven soldiers were killed by accidental fire from their own side.

The site was located after the accidental discovery of bones in a field.

He plays a naive salesman who becomes an accidental hero by saving a child's life.

a sign showing that there is a temporary change from the key signature (= the set of musical notes that should normally be played for a particular piece of music)

a bird that is found in a place where birds of its type are not usually found :

You may spot accidentals driven in by the stormy weather.