fender bender

noun

: a minor automobile accident

Examples of fender bender in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Donlon remains angry about the treatment his wife received when she was detained for two hours in the 17th Precinct after a fender bender on the East Side on Dec. 16. Graham Rayman, New York Daily News, 17 July 2025 After a fender bender introduced Dee and Charlie to a pair of seemingly too-good-to-be-true rich siblings, we were primed for the other shoe to drop. Dennis Perkins, EW.com, 10 July 2025 These kinda things like this used to happen even in fender benders before seat belts became law. Alexandra Schonfeld, People.com, 7 June 2025 For Level 2 systems, minor property damage incidents—including door dings, curb kisses and garden-variety fender benders—will now generally be excluded from reporting requirements. Deni Ellis Béchard, Scientific American, 2 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for fender bender

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1962, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of fender bender was circa 1962

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Cite this Entry

“Fender bender.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fender%20bender. Accessed 23 Jul. 2025.

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