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incidental

adjective
in·​ci·​den·​tal | \ ˌin(t)-sə-ˈden-tᵊl How to pronounce incidental (audio) \

Definition of incidental

 (Entry 1 of 2)

1a : being likely to ensue as a chance or minor consequence social obligations incidental to the job
b : minor sense 1
2 : occurring merely by chance or without intention or calculation

incidental

noun

Definition of incidental (Entry 2 of 2)

1 incidentals plural : minor items (as of expense) that are not particularized
2 : something that is incidental
Other Words from incidental Synonyms & Antonyms Incidental vs. Accidental More Example Sentences Learn More about incidental

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Incidental vs. Accidental

Adjective

One sense of incidental is defined as "occurring merely by chance or without intention or calculation ," and one of the most common meanings of accidental in modern use is "occurring unexpectedly or by chance," so it is not surprising that the two words are sometimes confused. However, in almost all settings in which they will be found today, these words have distinct meanings. Incidental is most often used in the sense "being likely to ensue as a chance or minor consequence," or "minor" (as in "there were some incidental expenses that I paid myself").

Examples of incidental in a Sentence

Adjective

 You may incur some incidental expenses on the trip. an incidental part of the job
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Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective

 Compared to the sheer desperation of the narrator’s frame of mind, the details of the murder feel incidental, unimportant. — Abhrajyoti Chakraborty, The New Republic, "Natalia Ginzburg’s Radical Clarity," 5 Aug. 2019 Like many head injuries in touch football, the contact was incidental. — Ken Belson, New York Times, "Touch Football, Sold as Safer, Now Requires a Helmet," 20 Aug. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'incidental.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of incidental

Adjective

1644, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun

1707, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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More Definitions for incidental

incidental

adjective
How to pronounce incidental (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of incidental

 (Entry 1 of 2)

: happening as a minor part or result of something else

incidental

noun

English Language Learners Definition of incidental (Entry 2 of 2)

: something that happens as a minor part or result of something else : something that is incidental

See the full definition for incidental in the English Language Learners Dictionary

incidental

adjective
in·​ci·​den·​tal | \ ˌin-sə-ˈden-tᵊl

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