incidental

Happening as a side effect or usual result of something else.

• We covered all incidental expenses.
• The job brings incidental benefits, including free meals.
• Minor injuries are incidental to this kind of work.

How to use it: incidental to something (Some discomfort is incidental to this treatment.)

Similar words: associated, accompanying

Common phrases: incidental expenses, incidental benefits, incidental to something

Connected to something, but having little importance to it.

• These details are incidental.
• His childhood is incidental to the argument.
• The incidental characters add humor to the film.

How to use it: incidental to something (The romance is incidental to the main story.)

Similar words: secondary, peripheral

Opposites: central, essential

Common phrases: incidental detail, incidental character, incidental to something

Happening by chance, without being planned.

• Their first meeting was incidental.
• An incidental discovery changed the course of her research.
• The resemblance is purely incidental.

Similar words: accidental, chance

Opposites: intentional

Common phrases: incidental contact, incidental discovery, incidental encounter

Small extra costs, such as tips or snacks, beyond the main cost.

• Keep some money for incidentals.
• The company covered my hotel and incidentals.
• How much did you spend on incidentals?

Similar words: extra expenses

Common phrases: an incidental, unexpected incidental