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Meaning of tangential
The primary meaning of "tangential" refers to something that is only slightly connected or related to the main topic or issue at hand.
Etymology of tangential
The word "tangential" originates from the Latin "tangens," meaning touching, and the suffix "-ial," which forms an adjective
Historically, the term has been used in mathematics and physics to describe a line or curve that touches a circle or sphere at a single point
In modern usage, the word has expanded to include figurative senses, describing something that is only slightly related or connected to the main topic
Synonyms
peripheral
incidental
marginal
secondary
indirect
oblique
glancing
passing
fleeting
brief
superficial
surface-level
cursory
slight
minor
incidental
ancillary
auxiliary
subordinate
adjunct
apposite
apropos
relevant
pertinent
germane
apt
incidental
parenthetical
accessory
supplementary
ancillary
marginalia
extraneous
extrinsic
external
outside
outlier
perfunctory
Definitions
- Going off or away from the main subject or line of thought
- * Only slightly connected or related to the main topic or issue
- * Briefly touching or meeting something, especially a subject or idea
Usage Examples
- The professor's comment about the weather was tangential to the main discussion of the novel
- * The new employee's question about the company's history was tangential to the training session's focus on sales techniques
- * The author's mention of the historical event was tangential to the main plot of the story