circumstantial

adjective

cir·​cum·​stan·​tial ˌsər-kəm-ˈstan(t)-shəl 

1

: belonging to, consisting in, or dependent on circumstances

a circumstantial case

circumstantial factors

circumstantial evidence

2

: pertinent but not essential : incidental

Revolutions usually happen for both structural and circumstantial reasons.

—A. M. S. Aly

3

: marked by careful attention to detail : abounding in factual details

a circumstantial account of the fight

4

: ceremonial

the circumstantial splendor of the coronation

circumstantiality

ˌsər-kəm-ˌstan(t)-shē-ˈa-lə-tē 

noun

circumstantially

ˌsər-kəm-ˈstan(t)-sh(ə-)lē 

adverb

Synonyms

• blow-by-blow
• detailed
• elaborate
• full
• minute
• particular
• particularized
• thorough

Choose the Right Synonym for circumstantial

circumstantial, minute, particular, detailed mean dealing with a matter fully and usually point by point.

circumstantial implies fullness of detail that fixes something described in time and space.

a circumstantial account of our visit

minute implies close and searching attention to the smallest details.

a minute examination of a fossil

particular implies a precise attention to every detail.

a particular description of the scene of the crime

detailed stresses abundance or completeness of detail.

a detailed analysis of the event

Examples of circumstantial in a Sentence

The evidence is purely circumstantial.

The case against him is circumstantial.

a circumstantial account of the meeting

Recent Examples on the Web

All of that together with the circumstantial stress can add up to stiffness and pain. —Deborah Vankin, Los Angeles Times, 22 Feb. 2025

Ana’s body was never found, which made the international murder case a challenge for FBI agents and prosecutors who had built a largely circumstantial body of evidence against Knezevich. —Jay Weaver, Miami Herald, 28 Apr. 2025

Lower-maintenance color treatments such as a face-framing highlight or partial highlight are on the lower end of pricing, says Casanova, but pricing can still be circumstantial. —Audrey Noble, Vogue, 18 Mar. 2025

His team set out to prove a circumstantial case that the killings were united by a common scheme and plan. —Christopher Goffard, Los Angeles Times, 27 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

see circumstance

First Known Use

1600, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing circumstantial

• circumstantial evidence

Rhymes for circumstantial

• insubstantial
• unsubstantial
• substantial

Kids Definition

circumstantial

adjective

cir·​cum·​stan·​tial ˌsər-kəm-ˈstan-chəl 

1

: consisting of, relating to, or depending on circumstances

circumstantial evidence

2

: containing full details

a circumstantial account of what happened

circumstantially

-ˈstanch-(ə-)lē 

adverb

Legal Definition

circumstantial

adjective

cir·​cum·​stan·​tial ˌsər-kəm-ˈstan-chəl 

: belonging to, consisting in, or dependent on circumstances

circumstantially adverb