: happening as a minor part or result of something else
You may incur some incidental expenses on the trip.
an incidental part of the job
an incidental observation
He writes incidental music for plays.
—often + toThis chapter is incidental to the plot.
plural incidentals
: something that happens as a minor part or result of something else : something that is incidental
—usually plural
We received a bill for tuition plus incidentals. [=incidental expenses]
You should bring enough money to cover incidentals like cab fare and tips.
Cite this Entry
“Incidental.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/incidental. Accessed 19 Jun. 2026.
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