incidental

[ in-si-den-tl ]

adjective

1. happening or likely to happen in an unplanned or subordinate conjunction with something else.

   Synonyms: contingent, fortuitous, chance, casual

   Antonyms: fundamental

2. incurred casually and in addition to the regular or main amount:

   incidental expenses.

3. likely to happen or naturally appertaining (usually followed by to ).

noun

1. something incidental, as a circumstance.
2. incidentals, minor expenses.

incidental

/ ˌɪnsɪˈdɛntəl /

adjective

1. happening in connection with or resulting from something more important; casual or fortuitous
2. postpositivefoll byto found in connection (with); related (to)
3. postpositivefoll byupon caused (by)
4. occasional or minor

   incidental expenses

noun

1. often plural an incidental or minor expense, event, or action

Derived Forms

• ˌinciˈdentalness, noun

Other Words From

• inci·dental·ness noun
• nonin·ci·dental adjective
• nonin·ci·dental·ly adverb
• unin·ci·dental adjective
• unin·ci·dental·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of incidental¹

First recorded in 1610–20; incident + -al ¹

Example Sentences

Medical professionals continue to push back against a body-worn camera video released by the Sheriff’s Department purporting to show a deputy overdosing from incidental contact with fentanyl in a San Marcos parking lot in July.

From Voice of San Diego

Many breakthrough cases seem to be entirely asymptomatic, only being detected through routine or incidental testing.

From Popular-Science

It found “incidental deficiencies” that did not merit any fines or corrective action.

From ProPublica

By contrast, retailing plays an almost incidental role in “Amazon Unbound.”

From Washington Post

One incidental benefit of the charter school movement is that it put pressure on traditional public schools – and society as a whole – to do something about it.

From Voice of San Diego

Those are troubling numbers, for unfettered speech is not incidental to a flourishing society.

From The Daily Beast

Decorative value is largely incidental to artistic merit as defined by critics.

From The Daily Beast

The party the mayor seeks is one in which inequality is the central focus of the platform rather than incidental to it.

From The Daily Beast

The problem of “incidental impact” arises in many different contexts.

From The Daily Beast

Do not mistake the epic graft in Sochi as unusual or incidental.

From The Daily Beast

Casual employment in the Connecticut act means occasional or incidental employment.

From Project Gutenberg

How just is this sentiment, so simply phrased, incidental to the passionate and feverish colour of the painter!

From Project Gutenberg

For the first time it was no longer disguised from sight by the incidental interest of its side issues.

From Project Gutenberg

Incidental features of sex hygiene will arise naturally from physical education and can be adequately treated there.

From Project Gutenberg

The painter will do well to look on them as something incidental merely to the picture.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• accidental
• ancillary
• casual
• coincidental
• random
• secondary