accident of birth
noun phrase
: a quality or property due to the circumstances of one's birth
His wealth is a mere accident of birth because he came from a wealthy family.
Examples of accident of birth in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
This would require imagining a new Rwanda that transcended ethnic differences, in which individual endowment, lofty dreams, hard work, and a bit of luck determined one’s fate rather than the accident of birth.
—
Jonathan M. Hansen, TIME, 7 Apr. 2024
Her accident of birth sent so many questions spinning into the air.
—Parul Sehgal, The New Yorker, 22 Jan. 2024
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Jonathan M. Hansen, TIME, 7 Apr. 2024
Her accident of birth sent so many questions spinning into the air.
—Parul Sehgal, The New Yorker, 22 Jan. 2024
Dictionary Entries Near accident of birth
Cite this Entry
“Accident of birth.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/accident%20of%20birth. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share