Definition

1. Adjective:

   • Happening by chance or as a minor accompaniment; not essential or central: Describes something that occurs in connection with something else but is not the main focus or a planned part of it.
   • Occurring as a minor consequence or side effect: Refers to something that happens as a secondary result of a primary action or event.

2. Noun:

   • A minor or secondary item, detail, or expense: An item, often a cost, that is not part of the main budget or plan but occurs in connection with it.

Examples of Usage

• Adjective:

  • The report covers the main findings and some incidental observations.
  • We must budget for travel and incidental costs like meals.
  • The stress was incidental to the job's high demands.

• Noun:

  • The grant covers tuition but not incidentals like books and supplies.
  • Keep receipts for all incidentals during the business trip.

Advanced Usage

• "Incidental to": This phrase is commonly used to show that something is a minor, secondary, or chance accompaniment of something else.
  • The noise was incidental to the construction process and could not be avoided.
  • Any profits incidental to the main charity event will be donated.

Variants and Related Words

• Incidentally (adverb): Used to introduce a point that is related but less important, or to describe something happening by chance.
  • The software is easy to use and, incidentally, very affordable.
• Incidence (noun): The occurrence, rate, or frequency of something (especially something undesirable).
  • The study tracked the incidence of the disease.

Synonyms

• Adjective: Accompanying, ancillary, secondary, subsidiary, contingent, chance, casual, nonessential.
• Noun: Sundry, extra, miscellaneous item.

Antonyms

• Adjective: Essential, fundamental, central, primary, intentional, planned.
• Noun: Essential, necessity, major expense.

Related Phrases

• Incidental music: Music used in a film, play, or other production to create atmosphere or accompany action. It is secondary to the main dialogue or plot.
  • The composer wrote the incidental music for the television series.
• Incidental finding: In medicine, an unexpected discovery made while diagnosing or treating something else.
  • The scan revealed an incidental finding of a small, benign cyst.

Adjective

1. following or accompanying as a consequence
   • an excessive growth of bureaucracy, with attendant problems
   • snags incidental to the changeover in management
   • attendant circumstances
   • the period of tension and consequent need for military preparedness
   • the ensuant response to his appeal
   • the resultant savings were considerable
2. not of prime or central importance
   • nonessential to the integral meanings of poetry- Pubs.MLA
3. (sometimes followed by `to') minor or casual or subordinate in significance or nature or occurring as a chance concomitant or consequence
   • incidental expenses
   • the road will bring other incidental advantages
   • extra duties incidental to the job
   • labor problems incidental to a rapid expansion
   • confusion incidental to a quick change

Noun

1. an item that is incidental
2. (frequently plural) an expense not budgeted or not specified
   • he requested reimbursement of $7 for incidental expenses