incident
Something that happened
An incident is something that happens—an event, especially one that's notable or disruptive.
Police respond to incidents; workplaces file incident reports.
The word often implies trouble or conflict: There was an incident at the bar last night.
In diplomatic language, an incident is a minor clash that could escalate: a border incident.
As an adjective, incident means naturally attached or occurring: the risks incident to surgery.
Minor unfortunate occurrence
- collisionForceful contact between objects
- crashSudden violent impact
- wreckDestroyed vessel or vehicle
- fender-benderMinor vehicle collision
pileup · spill · slip · fall · overturn · derailment · injury · damage
A notable occurrence
- episodeSerialized content unit
- happeningEvent in progress
- situationState of affairs
- circumstanceCondition affecting an event
affair · matter · phenomenon · case · instance · development · moment · chapter
Account of events
- coverageExtent of inclusion
- headlineNews article title
- reportFormal written findings
- breakingComing apart suddenly
developing · unfolding · correspondent · footage · eyewitness · scene · investigation · update
Heated verbal dispute
- confrontationDirect hostile encounter
- skirmishBrief, limited combat
- clashViolent disagreement or collision
- scuffleBrief disorderly struggle
disturbance · fracas · melee · brawl · dispute · standoff · provocation · escalation
Formal written findings
- safetyFreedom from harm
- OSHAFederal workplace safety regulator
- documentationWritten proof or instructions
- investigationFormal examination of facts
witness · protocol · near-miss · violation · hazard · liability · compliance · training
Answer to stimulus
- evacuationRemoval from danger
- triageSeverity-based prioritization
- paramedicsEmergency medical technicians
- rescueSave from harm
911 · dispatch · hazmat · lockdown · shelter-in-place · protocol · drill · alert
Breaking of agreement
- intrusionUnauthorized entry into space
- hackShortcut or breach
- cyberattackMalicious digital intrusion
- theftUnlawful taking of property
break-in · trespassing · surveillance · detection · alert · threat · vulnerability · compromise
mishap
Minor unfortunate occurrence
fender-bender · pileup · spill · slip · fall · overturn · derailment · injury · damage · casualty
event
A notable occurrence
circumstance · affair · matter · phenomenon · case · instance · development · moment · chapter · experience
story
Account of events
breaking · developing · unfolding · correspondent · footage · eyewitness · scene · investigation · update · briefing
altercation
Heated verbal dispute
- confrontationDirect hostile encounter
- skirmishBrief, limited combat
- clashViolent disagreement or collision
scuffle · disturbance · fracas · melee · brawl · dispute · standoff · provocation · escalation · aggression
report
Formal written findings
- safetyFreedom from harm
- OSHAFederal workplace safety regulator
- documentationWritten proof or instructions
investigation · witness · protocol · near-miss · violation · hazard · liability · compliance · training · prevention
response
Answer to stimulus
- evacuationRemoval from danger
- triageSeverity-based prioritization
- paramedicsEmergency medical technicians
rescue · 911 · dispatch · hazmat · lockdown · shelter-in-place · protocol · drill · alert · alarm
breach
Breaking of agreement
- intrusionUnauthorized entry into space
- hackShortcut or breach
- cyberattackMalicious digital intrusion
theft · break-in · trespassing · surveillance · detection · alert · threat · vulnerability · compromise · malware
- happeningshappenings, happening, event, occurrence, events
- reportable incidentsbreach, injury, violation, spill, death
- helpdeskticket, helpdesk, ticketing system, open ticket, ticket queue
- eventsevent, events, party, parties, wedding
- safetysafety helmet, hazard, airbag, alert, occupational safety
- customer supporttickets, help desk, helpdesk, chat agent, FAQs
incidentnon-event
Disappointing lack of significance
nothing · uneventfulness · normalcy · quiet · calm
incidentroutine
Regular sequence of actions
regularity · regular · pattern · norm · systematic
- incident reportDocument describing what happened
- angle of incidenceIncoming direction relative to perpendicular
- diplomatic incidentOfficial conflict between nations
- inciting incidentEvent starting main conflict
- nuclear incidentUncontrolled reactor event
- incidental expensesMinor unbudgeted costs
coincidence, incidents, incidental, incidentally, incidence, coincidental, coincident, coincidences, coincidentally