incidental
nounEtymology From incident + -al.
1
Minor items, not further defined. Incidental expense.
- She's costing us a lot in incidentals.
2
Something that is incidental.
incidental
adjUS [ɪnsɪˈdɛ.ɾ̃əl] · /ɪnsɪˈdɛntəl/
Etymology From incident + -al.
1
Loosely associated; of limited relevance except indirectly; only accidentally related.
- That character, though colorful, is incidental to the overall plot.
- incidental evidence
2
Existing tangentially, being a byproduct, a tangent, or a likely consequence.
- Injuries are incidental to contact sports: they're going to happen.
3
Occurring by chance.
4
Natural sciences, Physical sciences, Physics Of radiation Entering or approaching, prior to reflection (more frequently incident).
- Synonyms
- accidental, contingent, serendipitous
- Antonyms
- inevitable, necessary, impossible, intentional