circumstantial
Americanadjective
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relating to or derived from circumstances.
a circumstantial result;
circumstantial evidence.
-
of the nature of a circumstance or minor detail; nonessential; secondary.
of circumstantial importance.
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dealing with or giving circumstances; detailed; particular.
a circumstantial report of a business conference.
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pertaining to conditions of material welfare.
adjective
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of or dependent on circumstances
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fully detailed
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incidental
Other Word Forms
- circumstantiality noun
- circumstantially adverb
- noncircumstantial adjective
- noncircumstantially adverb
- uncircumstantial adjective
- uncircumstantially adverb
Etymology
Origin of circumstantial
1590–1600; < Latin circumstanti ( a ) circumstance + -al 1
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.
Instead, it is wholly contingent and circumstantial, defined by what serves his own self-interest and corrupt needs and wants at any given moment.
From Salon • Mar. 10, 2026
A chronology of top quarterback movement in recent days provides circumstantial evidence that Louisiana State and Williams have mutual interest.
From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 7, 2026
I’m not an early riser, though it’s all circumstantial if I’m working or traveling or jet-lagged.
From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 22, 2025
Though circumstantial, their case would show the evidence pointed to Singh "and eliminated others", the court heard.
From BBC • Dec. 8, 2025
The jury system allowed a significant role to circumstantial evidence, as long as it was introduced in testimony.
From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton
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.
