tangential

[ tan-jen-shuh l ]
/ tænˈdʒɛn ʃəl /

adjective

pertaining to or of the nature of a tangent; being or moving in the direction of a tangent.
merely touching; slightly connected: tangential information.
divergent or digressive, as from a subject under consideration: tangential remarks.
tending to digress or to reply to questions obliquely.
Also tan·gen·tal [tan-jen-tl] /tænˈdʒɛn tl/.

Origin of tangential

First recorded in 1620–30; tangent + -ial

OTHER WORDS FROM tangential

Words nearby tangential

tangency, tangent, tangent galvanometer, tangent line, tangent plane, tangential, tangential motion, tangentiality, tangerine, tangi, tangible

British Dictionary definitions for nontangential

tangential
/ (tænˈdʒɛnʃəl) /

adjective

of, being, relating to, or in the direction of a tangent
Also: transverse astronomy (of velocity) in a direction perpendicular to the line of sight of a celestial object Compare radial (def. 6)
of superficial relevance only; digressive

Derived forms of tangential

tangentiality, noun tangentially or tangentally, adverb