incidentally

[ in-si-den-tl-ee -dent-lee ]

adverb

1. apart or aside from the main subject of attention, discussion, etc.; by the way; parenthetically:

   Incidentally, while you were waiting for the officer to run your registration through the system, did you notice if the post office was open?

2. in the course of something else, and not intentionally:

   The bone fractures were discovered only incidentally, during an unrelated CT scan of her chest.

incidentally

/ ˌɪnsɪˈdɛntəlɪ /

adverb

1. as a subordinate or chance occurrence
2. sentence modifier by the way

Word History and Origins

Origin of incidentally¹

First recorded in 1655–65; incidental + -ly

Example Sentences

Not a peep from all the “originalists,” incidentally, whose squawks could be heard for miles when the Supreme Court found, in Roe v.

From Salon

But just as they showed Sunday in their 24-19 loss to Green Bay — incidentally, the league’s youngest team — they haven’t shown an ability to finish the job.

From Los Angeles Times

And, incidentally, it was a win that clinched the Dodgers’ 12th consecutive playoff berth!

From Los Angeles Times

He would also, incidentally, position Harris to win the November election.

From Los Angeles Times

As winners and runners-up of their Group A sections, holders England, Denmark, France, Germany, Iceland, Italy, Netherlands and Spain join hosts Switzerland, who incidentally won their Group B section, in qualifying directly for Euro 2025.

From BBC

Related Words

• casually
• remotely