tangential

adjective

tan·​gen·​tial tan-ˈjen(t)-shəl 

1

a

: touching lightly : incidental, peripheral

tangential involvement

also : of little relevance

arguments tangential to the main point

b

: divergent, digressive

2

: of, relating to, or of the nature of a tangent

3

: acting along or lying in a tangent

tangential forces

tangentially

tan-ˈjen(t)-sh(ə-)lē 

adverb

Did you know?

Tangential Has Mathematical Roots

In geometry, a tangent is a straight line that touches a curve at a single point. So we say that someone who starts talking about one thing and gets sidetracked has gone off on a tangent. The new subject is tangential to the first subject—it touches it and moves off in a different direction.

Examples of tangential in a Sentence

Their romance is tangential to the book's main plot.

Recent Examples on the Web

But there is also something improvisational and, at times, disarmingly nonchalant about the way Bradford invokes certain more tangential narratives. —Sebastian Smee, Washington Post, 5 May 2023

Rasmussen’s new, and tangential, enthusiasm for the NFL put her in good company, with many more young and female viewers expected this year because of the pop star’s relationship with Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce. —Harriet Blair Rowan, The Mercury News, 12 Feb. 2024

There’s even a tangential family member, John’s college-student cousin Blaire (Giorgia Whigham), with a surprisingly prominent role in the 16-year-old’s daily life. —Alison Herman, Variety, 11 Jan. 2024

Many of the names have only a tangential connection to Epstein. —Spencer Elliott, USA TODAY, 4 Jan. 2024

Unlike many scholars who have addressed the history of faith and work, Lynn understands that various cultural, eschatological, and sociological commitments from adherents of different schools of thought were not merely tangential. —David L. Bahnsen, National Review, 20 Jan. 2024

For NewsNation’s first ever debate, the production was strong, with Kelly in particular pushing the event forward through sometimes messy and tangential arguments. —Tim Hanrahan, WSJ, 7 Dec. 2023

Fourth, his pedagogy, which seems in retrospect to be central, rather than tangential, to his achievement. —Anthony Lane, The New Yorker, 17 Nov. 2023

Amon, who noted that the U.S. remains the global leader in chip design, predicted that the U.S. could become the dominant force in AI and all the tangential industries needed to support its development. —Bypaolo Confino, Fortune, 3 Oct. 2023

Word History

First Known Use

1630, in the meaning defined at sense 2