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

Incidentally, Yoakam had also drawn me into the experience of his weekly radio show, which runs on his Sirius XM channel, Dwight Yoakam and the Bakersfield Beat.

From Los Angeles Times

Incidentally, beyond all the noise about Ms Gray it is worth reflecting on other more recent changes in Downing Street – both in personnel and managerial instinct.

From BBC

Her colleagues at the NFF decided she should go to Fifa's congress which was being held that year in Mexico City – incidentally the same city that hosted the unofficial 1971 global tournament – and make a speech about women's football.

From BBC

Incidentally, it’s not the first time the adage — believed to be a witticism about Parker’s own romantic foibles — has been used on the show.

From Los Angeles Times

Incidentally, what was the most expensive measure that day?

From BBC

Related Words

• casually
• remotely