Word
tangential
Phoneticstan·gen·tial
US/tænˈdʒɛnʃəɫ/
UK/tændʒˈɛnʃəl/
Definition
adj. not directly related to the main topic or subject. You use this to describe something that touches on a subject but doesn't go into it deeply.
adj. relating to or touching a subject only on the edge; not directly connected to the main point. Often describes a line of thought or a piece of information that diverges from the central theme.
Examples
“The speaker made several tangential comments about the weather.”
“While the main report focuses on economic growth, the appendix contains several tangential observations about local culture.”
“The author's style often involves tangential digressions that, while seemingly unrelated to the plot, eventually provide the necessary emotional depth for the protagonist's final decision.”
Examples
simple
“The speaker made several tangential comments about the weather.”
contextual
“While the main report focuses on economic growth, the appendix contains several tangential observations about local culture.”
complex
“The author's style often involves tangential digressions that, while seemingly unrelated to the plot, eventually provide the necessary emotional depth for the protagonist's final decision.”
Real-World Examples
“She follows the ripples of this middleman figure, identifying witnesses – tangential or immediate, innocent or otherwise – to acts of espionage, conspiracy and violence.” Word family
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/tangential