ancillary

American  

[an-suh-ler-ee, an-sil-uh-ree] / ˈæn səˌlɛr i, ænˈsɪl ə ri /

adjective

1. subordinate; secondary; subsidiary.

   Your medical coverage includes physiotherapy, eye testing, and other ancillary services.

2. auxiliary; assisting.

   The bookkeeper serves in an ancillary role, supporting the treasurer.

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noun

plural

ancillaries

1. something that serves in an ancillary capacity.

   Downloadable ancillaries to the basic textbook, such as videos and worksheets, are on our website.

ancillary British  

/ ænˈsɪlərɪ /

adjective

1. subsidiary

2. auxiliary; supplementary

   ancillary services

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noun

1. a subsidiary or auxiliary thing or person

   the company has an ancillary abroad

Etymology

Origin of ancillary

First recorded in 1660–70; from Latin ancillāris “having the status of a handmaid or female servant” + -ary adjective suffix; see origin at ancilla, -ary

Explanation

If you use the adjective ancillary to describe your position you are subordinate or supporting something or someone else. The adjective ancillary originally meant "relating to maidservants" from the Latin, but the element of a female servant has fallen away and now the word merely refers to a position as helpful or subordinate. An example of how something in medicine can be ancillary is after you have surgery you may also take a drug to aid healing — the drug would be considered ancillary to the surgery. One could also argue that in the United States the vice-president takes an ancillary role to the president.

Example Sentences

Ancillary fees arrived in the 1990s with the emergence of budget airlines such as Ryanair and EasyJet, but they have spread to bigger carriers, says John Grant, senior analyst at OAG, an aviation data firm.

From BBC • Aug. 19, 2023

Leckie won nearly all of science fiction's major awards for Ancillary Justice, her 2013 novel about an “ancillary,” a fragment of a spaceship's artificial consciousness housed in and controlling a human body.

From Scientific American • Jun. 20, 2023

The Science Practices Assessment Ancillary contains additional test questions for this section that will help you prepare for the AP exam.

From Textbooks • Jun. 9, 2022

Ancillary crowds at the Oscars tend to be folks hoping to catch glimpses of their favorite stars and a smattering of protestors.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 14, 2022

Ancillary fees are common with airlines: Buy a base fare and then pay extra for legroom or early boarding.

From Seattle Times • Feb. 13, 2022

Related Words

• additional