Accidental vs. Incidental — What's the Difference?

Happening by chance, unintentionally, or unexpectedly

Occurring or likely to occur as an unpredictable or minor consequence

Incidental; subsidiary

Of a minor, casual, or subordinate nature

(in Aristotelian thought) relating to or denoting properties which are not essential to a thing's nature.

A minor accompanying item or expense

A sign indicating a momentary departure from the key signature by raising or lowering a note

Loosely associated; of limited relevance except indirectly; only accident related.

Another term for vagrant

Existing tangentially, being a byproduct, a tangent, or a likely consequence.

Occurring unexpectedly, unintentionally, or by chance.

Occurring by chance.

(Music) Of or relating to an accidental.

Entering or approaching, prior to reflection (more frequently incident).

Being an animal, especially a bird, that has strayed beyond its normal range.

Minor items, not further defined. Incidental expense.

A property, factor, or attribute that is not essential.

Something that is incidental.

Any of various signs that indicate the alteration of a note by one or two semitones or the cancellation of a previous sign.

Happening, as an occasional event, without regularity; coming without design; casual; accidental; hence, not of prime concern; subordinate; collateral; as, an incidental conversation; an incidental occurrence; incidental expenses.

A note that has been marked with such a sign.

An incident; that which is incidental; esp., in the plural, an aggregate of subordinate or incidental items not particularized; as, the expense of tuition and incidentals.

An animal that has strayed beyond its normal range.

(frequently plural) an expense not budgeted or not specified;

Pertaining to accident and not essence; thus, inessential; incidental; secondary.

An item that is incidental

(philosophy) Nonessential to something's inherent nature (especially in Aristotelian thought).

(sometimes followed by `to') minor or casual or subordinate in significance or nature or occurring as a chance concomitant or consequence;

(music) Adjusted by one or two semitones, in temporary departure from the key signature.

Following as a consequence;

Occurring sometimes, by chance; occasional.

Not of prime or central importance;

Happening by chance, or unexpectedly; taking place not according to the usual course of things; by accident, unintentional.

(geometry) Being a double point with two distinct tangent planes in 4-dimensional projective space.

A property which is not essential; a nonessential; anything happening accidentally.

Those fortuitous effects produced by luminous rays falling on certain objects so that some parts stand forth in abnormal brightness and other parts are cast into a deep shadow.

(music) A sharp, flat, or natural, occurring not at the commencement of a piece of music as the signature, but before a particular note.

Part of a text that has a mainly structural purpose, such as spelling, punctuation, or capitalization.

Happening by chance, or unexpectedly; taking place not according to the usual course of things; casual; fortuitous; as, an accidental visit.

Nonessential; not necessary belonging; incidental; as, are accidental to a play.

A property which is not essential; a nonessential; anything happening accidentally.

Those fortuitous effects produced by luminous rays falling on certain objects so that some parts stand forth in abnormal brightness and other parts are cast into a deep shadow.

A sharp, flat, or natural, occurring not at the commencement of a piece of music as the signature, but before a particular note.

A musical notation that makes a note sharp or flat or natural although that is not part of the key signature

Associated by chance and not an integral part;

Occurring or appearing or singled out by chance;

Without intention (especially resulting from heedless action);