parenthetical
Americanadjective
-
of, pertaining to, noting, or of the nature of a parenthesis.
several unnecessary parenthetic remarks.
-
characterized by the use of parentheses.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of parenthetical
First recorded in 1620–30; from Greek parénthet(os) “interpolated” (verbid of parentithénai, equivalent to par- par- + en- en- 2 + the-, variant stem of tithénai “to put” + -tos verbal adjective suffix) + -ic + -al 1
Explanation
A parenthetical statement is one that explains or qualifies something. You can call such a statement a parenthetical, (especially when it's in parentheses). Have you ever said something like "I'm hungry!" and then added "...but I only want French fries"? That second statement is parenthetical: it clarifies the first statement. Just like words in parentheses (like these words) add clarity to a sentence, parenthetical words in speech help make something clearer or give extra information. You can call these statements (or words that actually are inside parentheses) parentheticals; and while parentheticals aren't the most important ideas, they help support those ideas.
Vocabulary lists containing parenthetical
The AP English Exam: Writing, Grammar, and Word Choice
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The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks
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Language and Grammar - High School
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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.
He acknowledges, in a parenthetical aside, that they likely aren’t.
From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 4, 2026
Even buried in a parenthetical as it is, the word “mandamus” jumps off the page as a threat to seek an extraordinary intervention by the appellate court.
From Seattle Times • Apr. 4, 2024
Later, Cyrus performed the song live for the first time, adding some parenthetical asides to the lyrics.
From BBC • Feb. 5, 2024
Tell me about those interviews and parenthetical asides.
From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 31, 2023
Much of the talk centered around events to which I was not privy, and even Charles’s kind parenthetical remarks of explanation did not help much to clarify it.
From "The Secret History" by Donna Tartt
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.
