Incidental
Not essential or central; occurring as a minor detail or accompaniment, or arising by chance.
adjectiveIncidental
Not essential or central; occurring as a minor detail or accompaniment, or arising by chance.
adjectiveImagine This
Imagine planning a big conference: the keynote is the main event, while the venue setup, decorations, and coffee break are incidental details.
Sounds Like
in-suh-DEN-tl
Looks Like
Looks like 'incident' or 'accidental' due to shared root
Remember This
Incidental does not mean accidental; it means something accompanying or minor, not essential to the main point.
Other Forms
Connect With
peripheral, secondary, auxiliary, ancillary, incidental music
Note
Common usage includes incidental expenses (minor costs that are not part of the main price) and incidental music (background music that accompanies, but is not the focus). Distinguish from essential or central elements.