Incidence
/ˈɪn.sɪ.dəns/noun
The occurrence, rate, or extent of something, especially an event or case.
Did you know?Incidence comes from the same Latin root as *incident* and originally carried the sense of something that “falls upon” or happens by chance, which is why it still feels so sudden and fated.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*kad-
“to fall”
Latin
Latin
cadere
“to fall”
Latin
Latin
incidere
“to fall into, fall upon; to happen”
Middle French
Old French
incidence
“a falling upon; occurrence, event”
Late Middle English
English
incidence
“a falling upon; an occurrence or event”
Modern English
English
incidence
“the occurrence, rate, or extent of something”