From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishincidentin‧ci‧dent /ˈɪnsɪdənt/ ●●○ W3 AWL noun [countable] 1 HAPPENan event, especially one that is unusual, important, or violent Am I at risk because of some incident in my sexual past? Roads were sealed off because of a major incident.without incident The plane landed without incident.► see thesaurus at eventRegisterIncident is used mainly in journalism or in formal contexts. In everyday English, people usually say something happened rather than talking about an incident:Am I at risk because of something that happened in my past?2 HAPPENa serious disagreement between two countries You could have caused a major diplomatic incident.COLLOCATIONSadjectivesa serious incidentThe road is closed following a serious incident earlier today.a major incident (=very serious)The most recent major incident was an explosion at an oil refinery.a small/minor incidentAn apparently minor incident sparked off rioting.the whole incidentThe whole incident was caught on CCTV.a separate incidentYoung men were killed in two separate incidents on the same day.a related incident (=connected to another incident)The report describes a number of related incidents.an isolated incident (=one that happens on its own, not together with others)Luckily the attack turned out to be an isolated incident.the latest incident (=the most recent one)In the latest incident a post office was broken into.a dramatic incident (=unexpected and exciting)Viewers watched the dramatic incident on the television news.a violent incidentThere have been several violent incidents at football matches recently.a tragic incident (=one that involves someone’s death)Andrew’s father was lost at sea in this tragic incident.an unfortunate incident (=involving an accident or argument)Disciplinary action may be taken over this unfortunate incident.an embarrassing incidentHe left after an embarrassing incident in the bar.a strange/unusual incidentAny unusual incidents should be reported to the police.a shooting/stabbing incident (=when someone is shot or stabbed)Two men died today in a shooting incident.verbsan incident happensThe incident happened as Mrs Edwards was walking her dog.an incident occurs formal:The tragic incident occurred just after midnight.cause an incidentHis carelessness caused a major incident.provoke/spark off an incident (=cause it to happen suddenly)It is claimed that the police provoked the incident.be involved in an incidentAll those involved in the incident were sacked.deal with/handle an incidentThe police were criticized for the way in which they handled the incident.describe an incidentPolice asked the victim to describe the incident.
Examples from the Corpus
incident• The allegations all relate to an incident on Sunday October 25.• From the point of view of societies, economies and the countless incidents of short-term history, civilizations must seem immortal too.• Friday's shooting incident in East London led to several arrests.• Apart from the incident in Las Vegas our vacation was completely trouble-free.• The incidents are, as I said, legion.• This incident was notable only because it was my first seizure made on board a cutter.• Three people were arrested in connection with the rock-throwing incident.• The North then invaded the South and the Gulf of Tonkin incident followed.• Agricultural pollution accounted for more than 10 percent of total incidents, and for a third of the major ones.• Jewell Parker Rhodes' novel is based upon true incidents related but altogether forgotten by blacks and whites alike.• One violent incident turned into a political and family tragedy.• The fans were well behaved, and the game was played without incident.without incident• The plane took off without incident.diplomatic incident• Then, in Hong Kong, Chris Patten and family were reunited with their beloved terrier whose disappearance caused a diplomatic incident.• The looming enforced removal of Mr Ozberk, 30, has the makings of a diplomatic incident.Origin incident (1400-1500) French Latin, present participle of incidere “to fall into” 