by accident

English

by accident (comparative more by accident, superlative most by accident)

Accidentally; unintentionally; without meaning to; as the result of an event not expected, aided, or willingly planned.
Sorry. I knocked over the vase by accident.
As the result of some undesigned, unintended, unrelated, natural, or random occurrence; as the unexpected and unforeseen result of formerly unrelated factors.
The car got totaled by accident; a giant snowdrift fell off the church roof.

The only way that project still exists today is by accident; I thought we closed it years ago.

The scholar thinks the quote and the parable were spoken on different occasions and only by accident were brought together here.
By chance; unexpectedly; as the result of an unrelated series of events.
I hadn't seen her for years, but I ran into her by accident at the store.

She overheard the information by accident.
- a. 1886, Richard Chenevix Trench, Thou cam'st not to thy place by accident:
  Thou cam'st not to thy place by accident: It is the very place God meant for thee.

accidentally — see accidentally

by accident (comparative more by accident, superlative most by accident)

Accidental; as the result of some unforeseen happening or series of events; unexpected; resulting from an event without the foresight, expectation, aid, or design of the person by whose agency it was caused; unintentional.
The victim's death was by accident.

That the injury was by accident is not questioned.