Incidental

Happening as a minor or accompanying part; not essential to the main purpose, or arising as a secondary consequence or accessory.

adjective

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Imagine This

Imagine you're planning a birthday party. The cake is the main focus, but a frisbee game in the backyard is incidental to the plan—fun, but not essential.

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Sounds Like

in-suh-DEN-tl

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Looks Like

Looks like 'incident' with an -al ending; may be confused with the noun 'incident'.

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Remember This

Incidental is often used for costs, events, or details that are secondary to the main purpose.

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Other Forms

incidentaladjective

incidentallyadverb

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Connect With

secondary, peripheral, ancillary, accompanying, incidental expenses

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Note

Distinguish incidental from essential or primary. Do not confuse with 'incident' (an event) or 'accidental' (happening by chance).

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Study Deeper

Examples

The museum charged extra for parking, guides, and other incidental costs.
The peaceful music playing in the background was incidental to the dramatic dialogue.

Synonyms

secondaryminoraccompanyingperipheralancillary

Antonyms

essentialcentralprimary

Etymology

From Latin incidentalem, from incidere 'to happen upon', with the suffix -al indicating an adjective; related to incident, meaning an occurrence.

Mnemonic

IN SIDE NTAL — think of side events that happen on the side, not the main act. Incidental means something that is on the side or auxiliary.

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