Tangential
Describing something that is only superficially related to the main topic or digressing from it; also, in geometry, relating to or touching a tangent.
adjectiveTangential
Describing something that is only superficially related to the main topic or digressing from it; also, in geometry, relating to or touching a tangent.
adjectiveImagine This
Imagine a classroom discussion where a student keeps drifting away from the central issue, offering anecdotes that merely touch the topic and then veer off—like a tangent that grazes the main point without diving in.
Sounds Like
tan-JEN-shuhl
Looks Like
Resembles 'tangent' in form and shares the idea of touching
Remember This
In geometry, a tangent line touches a circle at exactly one point; tangential uses that same root to convey 'touching' or 'on the edge.'
Other Forms
Connect With
tangent, digressive, peripheral, incidental, off-topic, unrelated
Note
Use tangential to describe remarks or ideas that are only loosely related to the main point. Do not use it to mean directly relevant or central. In math, tangential has a precise meaning related to touching a curve.