also: ことゆえ
noun
Only with reading じこ
The normal modern meaning. Common in compounds and phrases such as 交通事故, 事故が起きる, and 事故を起こす; it can refer to a concrete accident or an unwanted incident/trouble.
交差点で大きな事故が起きた。
A major accident occurred at the intersection.
彼は交
He was injured in a traffic accident.
noun
Only when written 事故 · Only with reading ことゆえ
Archaic use, especially with the obsolete reading ことゆえ. In modern Japanese, 事情 or 理由 is normally used for this meaning.
古い文章では、「事故」を「ことゆえ」と読み、事情や理由を表すことがある。
In old writing, 事故 may be read as ことゆえ and mean circumstances or reasons.
Attested but obsolete reading, associated with the old sense 'circumstances; reasons'. Not a normal modern reading of 事故.
Refers to an incident, case, or affair, often one involving crime or social attention; 事故 is more specifically an accident or mishap.
Means a breakdown or malfunction of a machine or system; 事故 can involve people, vehicles, workplaces, or broader incidents.
The ordinary modern word for circumstances or reasons, replacing the archaic ことゆえ sense of 事故.
Sino-Japanese compound 事故, conventionally combining 事 'matter; event' and 故 'cause; reason; mishap'. The obsolete reading ことゆえ reflects an older native-style reading for the 'circumstances; reasons' sense.