Dictionary.com

incidental

[ in-si-den-tl ]
/ ˌÉȘn sÉȘˈdɛn tl /
Save This Word!
See synonyms for: incidental / incidentals on Thesaurus.com

adjective
happening or likely to happen in an unplanned or subordinate conjunction with something else.
incurred casually and in addition to the regular or main amount: incidental expenses.
likely to happen or naturally appertaining (usually followed by to).
noun
something incidental, as a circumstance.
incidentals, minor expenses.
QUIZ
CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?
There are grammar debates that never die; and the ones highlighted in the questions in this quiz are sure to rile everyone up once again. Do you know how to answer the questions that cause some of the greatest grammar debates?
Question 1 of 7
Which sentence is correct?

Origin of incidental

First recorded in 1610–20; incident + -al1

OTHER WORDS FROM incidental

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH incidental

incidence, incidents, incidental
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use incidental in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for incidental

incidental
/ (ˌÉȘnsÉȘˈdɛntəl) /

adjective
happening in connection with or resulting from something more important; casual or fortuitous
(postpositive foll by to) found in connection (with); related (to)
(postpositive foll by upon) caused (by)
occasional or minorincidental expenses
noun
(often plural) an incidental or minor expense, event, or action

Derived forms of incidental

incidentalness, noun
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
FEEDBACK