tangential

Meanings

1. 1adjectivecomparable

   Only slightly related to the main subject; moving away from the central point.

   Grammar: Often used after be or before nouns: the comment was tangential; a tangential comment.

   Patterns

   • tangential remark
   • tangential connection
   • tangential issue
   • tangential to something

   Let’s avoid tangential details and finish the budget.

   His question was tangential but still useful.

   The essay includes a tangential discussion of politics.

2. 2adjectivebefore a nounmathematics

   Touching a curve or surface at exactly one point without crossing it, in geometry.

   Grammar: Usually comes before the noun in mathematical phrases: a tangential line.

   Patterns

   • tangential line
   • tangential plane
   • tangential contact

   A tangential line touches the circle at one point.

   The diagram showed a tangential plane to the sphere.

   Students compared tangential and secant lines.

Common combinations

tangential remark

The chair redirected a tangential remark back to the agenda.

tangential connection

There is only a tangential connection between the two studies.

tangential issue

We can address that tangential issue later in the report.

tangential line

Draw a tangential line from the point to the circle.

Synonyms and how they differ

digressive

Stronger; it means moving away from the topic in speech or writing.

peripheral

Suggests on the edge of importance rather than off-topic.

irrelevant

Means not connected at all, which is stronger than tangential.

Opposites

Word family

tangent noun

A line touching a curve once, or a sudden change of subject.

tangentially adverb

In a way that is only slightly connected.

Commonly confused: tangential or tangent?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “tangential”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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