tangential
Americanadjective
-
pertaining to or of the nature of a tangent; being or moving in the direction of a tangent.
-
merely touching; slightly connected.
tangential information.
-
divergent or digressive, as from a subject under consideration.
tangential remarks.
-
tending to digress or to reply to questions obliquely.
adjective
-
of, being, relating to, or in the direction of a tangent
-
Also: transverse. astronomy (of velocity) in a direction perpendicular to the line of sight of a celestial object Compare radial
-
of superficial relevance only; digressive
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of tangential
Explanation
Tangential describes something that's not part of the whole. If you make a comment that is tangential to the story you're telling, it's a digression. The story could still be understood without it. In geometry, a tangent is a line that touches a curve in one spot but doesn't intersect it anywhere else. Tangential means something that goes off in one direction that way and doesn't return. People can feel tangential — as though they're inessential and not relevant to a larger group.
Vocabulary lists containing tangential
300 Most Difficult "SAT" Words
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Common Senses: Tact, Tang ("Touch")
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
100 SAT Words Beginning with "T"
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Several of the chapters, about particle accelerators and fusion reactors, take readers on cursory tours of facilities that have at best a tangential connection to space.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 20, 2026
The MP idea feels a little more tangential than even EU defense stocks.
From Barron's • Jan. 14, 2026
It ranges from the greenest to the dirtiest, from established technologies to speculative ones, and even includes companies that play tangential roles in the sector.
From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 24, 2025
This is a bit of a tangential question.
From Salon • Jun. 17, 2025
I find I think of myself not as a writer so much as someone who provides a gateway, a tangential route for readers to reach the circus.
From "The Night Circus" by Erin Morgenstern
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
