incidental
incidental — adjective
1. Connected with a more important matter or activity but not as significant or ess
Connected with a more important matter or activity but not as significant or essential as it is.
Ignacio explained that the delivery date was incidental to the overall project schedule.
incidental + to + noun phrase for secondary importance
The committee agreed that the seating arrangement was an incidental detail.
attributive position: incidental detail / incidental matter
Compared to safety concerns, the colour of the equipment was considered incidental by the team.
Cyrus noted that the budget overrun was incidental to the campaign's main objective.
Hoa joined the discussion late, so her comments were incidental to the final decision.
- secondary
More common in everyday use; implies coming after the most important thing in rank.
- minor
Emphasises small size or degree rather than the relationship between two things.
- subordinate
More formal; stresses being placed in a lower rank or position.
文法句型
be incidental + to + noun phrase
用法筆記
Often followed by the preposition 'to': X is incidental to Y means X is far less important than Y.
常見錯誤
2. Occurring alongside a more important event or activity and arising naturally fro
Occurring alongside a more important event or activity and arising naturally from it.
Noa budgeted for incidental travel costs such as taxi fares and meals.
incidental + noun for resulting expenses
The new safety rules brought incidental changes to the way the factory operated.
Most insurance policies cover incidental medical expenses that arise during a trip abroad.
Imani's headaches were incidental to the long hours at her computer screen.
Ryan accepted the promotion despite the incidental increase in his weekly commute time.
- accompanying
Neutral; simply describes things that go together without implying importance.
- associated
Broader; can describe any link, not just things that co-occur.
- consequent
More formal; stresses the cause-and-effect relationship.
- unrelated
Not connected in any way.
- independent
Standing alone without being linked to something else.
文法句型
incidental + noun
用法筆記
Unlike sense 1 (LESS IMPORTANT), this sense does not emphasise the low importance of the thing — rather it focuses on the fact that one thing accompanies another. Frequently used in attributive position: 'incidental costs', 'incidental effects'.
常見錯誤
3. Happening by chance rather than as a result of a plan or intention.
Happening by chance rather than as a result of a plan or intention.
Jude and his former teacher met at the art gallery by pure incidental chance.
purely / entirely incidental for 'by chance' meaning
The discovery of the old coins was incidental to the archaeological dig for Roman pottery.
Lakshmi's role in the charity event was incidental — she happened to be at the venue.
An incidental conversation at a bus stop later grew into a business partnership.
- accidental
More common; implies the event was not meant to happen, sometimes with a negative tone.
- unintentional
Focuses on the lack of intention rather than on chance.
- fortuitous
Often carries a positive tone — a lucky chance.
- intentional
Done on purpose.
- deliberate
Carefully planned and carried out.
- planned
Arranged in advance.
文法句型
purely/entirely incidental
not ... incidental
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 1 (LESS IMPORTANT) where the focus is on low significance, and sense 2 (ACCOMPANYING) where the focus is on natural co-occurrence. This sense focuses purely on the absence of planning or intention. Commonly modified by adverbs like 'purely' or 'entirely'.
常見錯誤
incidental — noun
1. Small amounts of money spent on items or services that were not listed in a budg
Small amounts of money spent on items or services that were not listed in a budget or plan.
The conference budget set aside three hundred dollars for incidentals such as tips and snacks.
plural noun: incidentals as unplanned costs
Eri kept every receipt so she could claim her travel incidentals from the company.
The hotel bill listed room service and phone calls under incidentals.
Kevin checked the expense report for any unapproved incidentals that needed explanation.
文法句型
incidentals as plural noun
用法筆記
Almost always used in the plural form (incidentals) when referring to expenses. A single unplanned cost is usually called 'an incidental expense' (adjective) rather than 'an incidental' (noun).
常見錯誤
2. Things, details, or matters that are not important enough to be listed, discusse
Things, details, or matters that are not important enough to be listed, discussed, or dealt with separately.
The report focused on the main findings and left all the incidentals to the appendix.
plural noun: incidentals as unimportant details
Vivek asked the team to stop debating the incidentals and concentrate on the core issue.
During the trial, the lawyer dismissed several questions about dates as incidentals.
The guidebook covers main sights and leaves incidentals like bus routes to the local map.
- trivia
Emphasises that the details are unimportant or irrelevant.
- minutiae
Very formal; small precise details that may consume time unnecessarily.
- miscellany
A collection of various items of different kinds.
文法句型
the incidentals of + noun phrase
用法筆記
This sense is more formal than sense 1 (MINOR EXPENSES) and is not limited to financial contexts. It can refer to any minor piece of information or detail that is not worth separate attention. Often used in professional or academic writing.