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Incidental vs. Accidental
One sense of incidental is defined as "occurring merely by chance or without intention or calculation ," and one of the most common meanings of accidental in modern use is "occurring unexpectedly or by chance," so it is not surprising that the two words are sometimes confused. However, in almost all settings in which they will be found today, these words have distinct meanings. Incidental is most often used in the sense "being likely to ensue as a chance or minor consequence," or "minor" (as in "there were some incidental expenses that I paid myself").
Examples of incidental in a Sentence
Caroline Kubzansky, Chicago Tribune, 3 July 2025
The sweltering conditions were perhaps an incidental metaphor for the pressure the industry is feeling as the global luxury industry experiences a troubling slowdown.
—Alice Pfeiffer, CNN Money, 1 July 2025
Zach Wichter, USA Today, 25 June 2025
Others tend to fall through the cracks, such as meals while on the road and other incidentals.
—Egor Karpovich, Forbes.com, 4 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for incidental
Cite this Entry
“Incidental.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://x0upouf933.proxynodejs.usequeue.com/dictionary/incidental. Accessed 12 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
incidental
1 of 2 adjective
incidental
2 of 2 nounLegal Definition
incidental
adjective
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