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Incidental vs Ancillary - What's the difference?

incidental | ancillary |

As adjectives the difference between incidental and ancillary

is that incidental is loosely associated; existing as a byproduct, tangent, or accident while ancillary is subordinate; secondary; auxiliary; accessory.

As nouns the difference between incidental and ancillary

is that incidental is incidental expense while ancillary is something that serves an ancillary function, such as an easel for a painter.

incidental

English

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • Loosely associated; existing as a byproduct, tangent, or accident.
    • That character, though colorful, is incidental to the overall plot.
  • Entering or approaching, prior to reflection (more frequently incident).

    • Related terms

    * incident * incidence

    Derived terms

    * incidental expense * incidentally

    Synonyms

    *(existing as an accident) accidental, contingent

    Antonyms

    *(existing as an accident) inevitable, necessary, impossible

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • Incidental expense.
    • She's costing us a lot in incidentals .

    Anagrams

    * ----

    ancillary

    English

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Subordinate; secondary; auxiliary; accessory.
  • * 1836 , :
    • how easily he took all things along with him,—the persons, the opinions, and the day, and nature became ancillary to a man.
  • * 1898 ,
    • [E]very organ of the body, whatever function it may perform, must also perform the other four functions in an ancillary manner.

    Noun

    (ancillaries)
  • Something that serves an ancillary function, such as an easel for a painter.
  • (archaic) An auxiliary; a subordinate.

    • References

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    Anagrams

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