parenthetical

[ par-uhn-thet-i-kuhl ]

adjective

1. of, pertaining to, noting, or of the nature of a parenthesis:

   several unnecessary parenthetic remarks.

2. characterized by the use of parentheses.

Other Words From

• par·en·thet·i·cal·i·ty [par-, uh, n-thet-i-, kal, -i-tee], par·en·thet·i·cal·ness noun
• par·en·thet·i·cal·ly adverb
• in·ter·par·en·thet·ic adjective
• in·ter·par·en·thet·i·cal adjective
• un·par·en·thet·ic adjective
• un·par·en·thet·i·cal adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of parenthetical¹

First recorded in 1620–30; from Greek parénthet(os) “interpolated” (verbid of parentithénai, equivalent to par- par- + en- en- ² + the-, variant stem of tithénai “to put” + -tos verbal adjective suffix) + -ic + -al ¹

Example Sentences

It took a parenthetical phrase on an online ad to sharpen into focus the disparate ideas that Jesse Eisenberg was pulling together while writing what would become his second feature film as director, “A Real Pain.”

From Los Angeles Times

Parenthetical questions throughout the song represent the artist arguing with himself.

From Salon

Even buried in a parenthetical as it is, the word “mandamus” jumps off the page as a threat to seek an extraordinary intervention by the appellate court.

From Seattle Times

Later, Cyrus performed the song live for the first time, adding some parenthetical asides to the lyrics.

From BBC

Koontz even toyed with naming the novel after him — “Spike the Craggle” — an idea he reveals in one of the novel’s many metafictional parenthetical asides.

From Los Angeles Times