incidental

//ˌɪnsɪˈdɛntəl//
B2Frequency Level 12Formal
Visual representation of incidental

Adjective

incidentalCanonical form
1

Occurring as a minor accompaniment to something else; secondary or subordinate.

The incidental costs of the project were higher than expected.

2

Happening by chance in connection with something else; not planned or intended.

The discovery was incidental to our main research.

3

Liable to happen as a consequence of an activity.

Minor injuries are incidental to playing contact sports.

Noun

incidentalSingular
incidentalsPlural
1

A minor expense or item that is not part of the main cost or purpose.

The hotel bill included incidentals such as phone calls and minibar charges.

2

Incidental music composed for a play, film, or other production.

The composer wrote incidentals for the stage production.