What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
event
Example
The music event was a huge success, with thousands of people attending. [event: noun]
Example
The birth of a child is a momentous event in a family's life. [event: noun]
incident
Example
There was an incident on the highway that caused a major traffic jam. [incident: noun]
Example
The police were called to investigate an incident at the local convenience store. [incident: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Event is more commonly used than incident in everyday language. Event is a versatile word that covers a wide range of contexts, while incident is more specific and often used in formal or technical language.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between event and incident?
While event can be used in both formal and informal contexts, incident is often associated with formal or technical language and is less commonly used in everyday conversation.
