adjective

incidental

ihn-sih-DEHN-tuhl

adjective

Happening as a minor accompaniment to something else, rather than as the main point.

"The film's soundtrack is incidental music, meant to support the scenes rather than stand out."

"Any profit was incidental to the charity's main goal."

noun

A minor item or expense, not itemised individually.

"The budget included $200 for incidentals like snacks and parking."

How to Use Incidental

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishMinor, secondary, or happening by chance alongside the main event.

Common pairings

incidental expenses incidental music purely incidental

more incidental comparative, incidentals plural, most incidental superlative

Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.

Can you complete this real example?

The film's soundtrack is _____ music, meant to support the scenes rather than stand out.

contingent serendipitous

inevitable necessary impossible intentional

accidental conditional bathroom conscious certain important auspicious strange

mental dental rental parental Oriental elemental accidental ornamental judgmental monumental regimental fundamental

contingent serendipitous inevitable necessary impossible intentional accidental conditional bathroom conscious certain important