Accidentalness

/ækˌsɪˈdɛntəlnəs/ noun

Definition

The quality of being accidental or unintentional; the state of happening by chance.

Etymology

From accidental + -ness (Old English suffix creating abstract nouns). More common than accidentality in modern English.

Kelly Says

The 'accidentalness' of great discoveries—penicillin, X-rays, post-it notes—shows that sometimes the best innovations come from happy accidents rather than careful planning, which is deeply comforting for clumsy inventors.

Related Words

Explore More Words

Get the Word Orb API

Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.