The difference between Accidental and Occasional
When used as adjectives, accidental means not essential, whereas occasional means occurring or appearing irregularly from time to time, but not often.
Accidental is also noun with the meaning: a property which is not essential.
check bellow for the other definitions of Accidental and Occasional
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Accidental as an adjective:
Not essential; incidental, secondary.
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Accidental as an adjective (philosophy):
Nonessential to something's inherent nature (especially in Aristotelian thought).
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Accidental as an adjective (music):
Adjusted by one or two semitones, in temporary departure from the key signature.
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Accidental as an adjective:
Occurring sometimes, by chance; occasional.
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Accidental as an adjective:
Happening by chance, or unexpectedly; taking place not according to the usual course of things; by accident, unintentional.
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Accidental as an adjective (geometry):
Being a double point with two distinct tangent planes in 4-dimensional projective space.
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Accidental as a noun:
A property which is not essential; a nonessential; anything happening accidentally.
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Accidental as a noun (painting, pluralonly):
Those fortuitous effects produced by luminous rays falling on certain objects so that some parts stand forth in abnormal brightness and other parts are cast into a deep shadow.
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Accidental as a noun (music):
A sharp, flat, or natural, occurring not at the commencement of a piece of music as the signature, but before a particular note.
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Occasional as an adjective:
Occurring or appearing irregularly from time to time, but not often.
Examples:
"He was mostly solitary, but enjoyed the occasional visitor."
"He took an occasional glass of wine."
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Occasional as an adjective:
Created for a specific occasion.
Examples:
"Elgar's music was not created to be occasional music for high-school graduations."
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Occasional as an adjective:
Intended for use as the occasion requires.
Examples:
"What your living room needs are some occasional chairs."
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Occasional as an adjective:
Acting in the indicated role from time to time.
Examples:
"He is an occasional contributor to letters to the editor."