# accessorily

CEFR C2 · Adverb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/accessorily
Updated: 2026-06-04

## Definition

in a way that helps or supports someone else, especially in a crime. It describes being involved in a situation without being the main person doing the action.

For teachers: in a manner that provides assistance or support to another person, particularly in the commission of a crime. Often used in legal contexts to describe secondary liability.

## Examples

- He was found guilty of the crime accessorily.
- The court ruled that the defendant acted accessorily by providing the tools used in the robbery.
- While the primary perpetrator was absent from the scene, the prosecution argued that the defendant acted accessorily by orchestrating the logistics of the heist from a remote location.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.