ancillary

[ an-suh-ler-ee or, especially British, an-sil-uh-ree ]
See synonyms for: ancillaryancillaries on Thesaurus.com

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.

noun,plural an·cil·lar·ies.
  1. something that serves in an ancillary capacity: Downloadable ancillaries to the basic textbook, such as videos and worksheets, are on our website.

Origin of ancillary

1
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

Words Nearby ancillary

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How to use ancillary in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for ancillary

ancillary

/ (ænˈsɪlərɪ) /


adjective
  1. subsidiary

  2. auxiliary; supplementary: ancillary services

nounplural -laries
  1. a subsidiary or auxiliary thing or person: the company has an ancillary abroad

Origin of ancillary

1
C17: from Latin ancillāris concerning maidservants, from ancilla, diminutive of ancūla female servant

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