tangential

[ tan-jen-shuh l ]
/ tænˈdʒɛn ʃəl /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR tangential ON THESAURUS.COM

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

Words related to tangential

unrelated, extraneous, digressive, divergent

Example sentences from the Web for tangential

British Dictionary definitions for tangential

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