indirectly
adv.in a way that is not straight or direct. You use this when something happens as a result of something else, rather than being the main cause.
adv.in a circuitous or roundabout manner; not as a direct result or through a straight line of communication.
“The news reached me indirectly through a friend.”
“The tax increase will indirectly affect the price of groceries because transport costs will rise for the suppliers.”
“By focusing on employee well-being, the CEO indirectly improved the company's profit margins through higher retention rates and increased daily productivity.”
Typically placed after the verb or at the end of the clause; can also modify adjectives.
Usage indirectly affect · indirectly relate
“The dairy and alcohol industries would also be hit hard, directly and indirectly affecting hundreds of thousands of jobs in those sectors.”
“A new study suggests that sustainability improves corporate financial performance indirectly by increasing sales.”
From Middle English inderectely, indirectly, equivalent to indirect + -ly or in- + directly.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.