Tangentially

Tangentially describes something that touches or relates to a subject only slightly or indirectly. It signifies a deviation from the main topic, often involving a connection that's not central or immediately relevant. The word suggests a glancing, rather than a direct, engagement. Ideas expressed tangentially may add context or offer a new perspective, but they don't delve deeply into the core subject. It implies a connection that is oblique, marginal, or even incidental to the principal theme. The connection can be perceived as a digression, but it can also enrich understanding, or lead into new avenues of discovery.

Tangentially meaning with examples

• During the debate about climate change, the speaker began to speak tangentially about the impacts on migratory bird populations, a related but non-direct subject.
• The author, discussing the history of art, mentioned tangentially the patronage of the Medici family, touching on their influence without exploring the details.
• In a discussion of software development, the project manager brought up tangentially the recent success of a competing company's marketing campaign.
• When asked about their core values, the company representative spoke tangentially about the importance of employee wellness programs, rather than the values themselves.
• The professor, giving a lecture on Shakespeare, discussed tangentially the social context of Elizabethan England, but did not directly focus on the play's content.