Incidental: meaning, definitions and examples
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incidental
[ ˌɪn.sɪˈden.təl ]
in daily life
occurring by chance or as a minor consequence; minor or casual
Synonyms
accidental, casual, minor, secondary.
Which Synonym Should You Choose?
Word | Description / Examples |
---|---|
incidental |
Used when something occurs as a minor consequence or accompaniment of something else. It's often found in professional or technical contexts.
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accidental |
Best used when something happens by chance or mistake, without being planned. Often comes with a sense of unexpectedness.
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secondary |
Use this word to describe something that is not the primary focus but still important. It often comes in the context of prioritization or sequence.
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minor |
Use this word to describe something that is of lesser importance or smaller in scale. Often seen in comparison with something major.
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casual |
This word works well in contexts where something is informal or occasional. It can describe events, clothing, or relationships.
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Examples of usage
- The damage to the car was merely incidental to the main issue.
- The noise from the construction site was just an incidental inconvenience for the residents.
legal
an item that is incidental
Synonyms
accessory, additional, adjunct.
Which Synonym Should You Choose?
Word | Description / Examples |
---|---|
incidental |
Used when something happens by chance and is not the main focus or purpose.
|
adjunct |
Often used in academic or professional settings to describe something added to another thing but not essential to it.
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accessory |
Refers to something that is not essential but adds to the main item, often related to fashion or tools.
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additional |
Indicates something extra or more than what was originally considered or planned.
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Examples of usage
- The contract includes all incidentals such as shipping costs and taxes.
Translations
Translations of the word "incidental" in other languages:
🇵🇹 incidental
🇮🇳 आकस्मिक
🇩🇪 zufällig
🇮🇩 insidental
🇺🇦 випадковий
🇵🇱 przypadkowy
🇯🇵 偶然の
🇫🇷 incidental
🇪🇸 incidental
🇹🇷 tesadüfi
🇰🇷 우연한
🇸🇦 عرضي
🇨🇿 náhodný
🇸🇰 náhodný
🇨🇳 附带的
🇸🇮 naključen
🇮🇸 tilfallandi
🇰🇿 кездейсоқ
🇬🇪 შემთხვევითი
🇦🇿 təsadüfi
🇲🇽 incidental
Etymology
The word 'incidental' originated in the early 17th century from the Latin word 'incidentalis', which means 'falling upon'. Over time, it has evolved to be used in various contexts to describe something that is secondary, minor, or happening by chance.
See also: incidence, incident, incidentally, incidents.