circumstantial

[ sur-kuhm-stan-shuhl ]

adjective

1. relating to or derived from circumstances:

   a circumstantial result;

   circumstantial evidence.

2. of the nature of a circumstance or minor detail; nonessential; secondary:

   of circumstantial importance.

3. dealing with or giving circumstances; detailed; particular:

   a circumstantial report of a business conference.

   Synonyms: precise, exact, thorough, minute

4. pertaining to conditions of material welfare.

circumstantial

/ ˌsɜːkəmˈstænʃəl /

adjective

1. of or dependent on circumstances
2. fully detailed
3. incidental

Derived Forms

• ˌcircumˈstantially, adverb
• ˌcircumˈstantiˈality, noun

Other Words From

• circum·stantial·ly adverb
• noncir·cum·stantial adjective
• noncir·cum·stantial·ly adverb
• uncir·cum·stantial adjective
• uncir·cum·stantial·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of circumstantial¹

1590–1600; < Latin circumstanti ( a ) circumstance + -al ¹

Example Sentences

We can’t see through Venus’ thick clouds, but thanks to a vast amount of circumstantial evidence scientists think it’s almost certainly still erupting.

From Quanta Magazine

There are several pieces of circumstantial evidence leading scientists to suspect that our solar system suffered a dynamical instability, an event during which the giant planets’ orbits changed in sudden, dramatic fashion.

From Nautilus

While the NYPD declined to comment on specific incidents, a spokesperson said cases often have “important circumstantial distinctions.”

From ProPublica

While there is a demand for quality supply in the region, it’s circumstantial and client-specific, said Niou, some clients are looking for the most cost-effective way of reaching people in a region where the CPMs are relatively low.

From Digiday

All of which offers some evidence—circumstantial, at least—that to strongly fused individuals, there is something viscerally threatening about being exposed to opposing political ideas.

From Nautilus

Part of that has just been circumstantial and part of that has been by design.

From The Daily Beast

A fair amount of it is biological, but a lot of it is also circumstantial.

From The Daily Beast

The problem is that there is an enormous amount of both direct and circumstantial evidence to the contrary.

From The Daily Beast

The case, he said, is “built on loose circumstantial evidence.”

From The Daily Beast

Still, the circumstantial case against Lieberman involved much more money and was much more transparent.

From The Daily Beast

These stories by a round-about way, gathering in circumstantial detail as they travelled, had reached his sister.

From Project Gutenberg

While a jury might refuse to convict on circumstantial evidence a detective is not so deterred.

From Project Gutenberg

Circumstantial evidence backed by a confession that checks on all angles is about all any jury needs to be convinced of guilt.

From Project Gutenberg

I have known you for a long time, and possess the most circumstantial details about the plans you were devising.

From Project Gutenberg

A public meeting was convened, and Moffat gave a circumstantial account of the information he had gathered.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• coincidental
• inconclusive
• indirect