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Disaster vs Incident - What's the difference?

disaster | incident |

As nouns the difference between disaster and incident

is that disaster is an unexpected natural or man-made catastrophe of substantial extent causing significant physical damage or destruction, loss of life or sometimes permanent change to the natural environment while incident is an event or occurrence.

As an adjective incident is

arising as the result of an event, inherent.

disaster

English

Alternative forms

* disastre (archaic)

Noun

(en noun)
  • An unexpected natural or man-made catastrophe of substantial extent causing significant physical damage or destruction, loss of life or sometimes permanent change to the natural environment.
  • * {{quote-magazine, date=2013-06-29, volume=407, issue=8842, page=28, magazine=(The Economist)
    • , title= High and wet , passage=Floods in northern India, mostly in the small state of Uttarakhand, have wrought disaster on an enormous scale. The early, intense onset of the monsoon on June 14th swelled rivers, washing away roads, bridges, hotels and even whole villages. Rock-filled torrents smashed vehicles and homes, burying victims under rubble and sludge.}}
  • An unforeseen event causing great loss, upset or unpleasantness of whatever kind.
  • *{{quote-book, year=1959, author=(Georgette Heyer), title=(The Unknown Ajax), chapter=1
    • , passage=And no use for anyone to tell Charles that this was because the Family was in mourning for Mr Granville Darracott […]: Charles might only have been second footman at Darracott Place for a couple of months when that disaster occurred, but no one could gammon him into thinking that my lord cared a spangle for his heir.}}
  • * 2003 ,
    • A nod means good, two nods; very good. And then there's the pursing of the lips: disaster .

    Synonyms

    * See also

    Anagrams

    *

    incident

    English

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • An event or occurrence.
  • A relatively minor event that is incidental to, or related to others
  • An event that may cause or causes an interruption or a crisis
  • In safety, an incident of workplace illness or injury

    • Derived terms

    * incidental * aviation incident * coincident * incident room

    Related terms

    * accident * incidence * occident

    Adjective

    (-)
  • Arising as the result of an event, inherent
  • (physics) (of a stream of particles or radiation ) falling on or striking a surface (e.g. "The incident light illuminated the surface.")
  • Coming or happening accidentally; not in the usual course of things; not in connection with the main design; not according to expectation; casual; fortuitous.
  • * Hooker
    • As the ordinary course of common affairs is disposed of by general laws, so likewise men's rarer incident necessities and utilities should be with special equity considered.
  • Liable to happen; apt to occur; befalling; hence, naturally happening or appertaining.
  • * Milton
    • all chances incident to man's frail life
  • * Milward
    • the studies incident to his profession
  • (legal) Dependent upon, or appertaining to, another thing, called the principal.