peripherally

[ puh-rif-er-uh-lee ]

adverb

1. in a way that relates to or is close to the edge or boundary:

   These small, peripherally located urban communities are almost like rural ones.

2. in a way that concerns relatively minor, superficial, or indirectly related aspects of a subject or situation:

   Industries that rely even peripherally on steel will also be affected by the tariff.

   Some of the nurses wrote a lot about their healthcare experiences, while others mentioned the topic infrequently or only peripherally.

3. Anatomy. near the surface, edge, or exterior of the body structure in question:

   The primary lung lesion was located peripherally in 18 patients and centrally in 8 patients.

4. Computers.
   1. in a way that is separate from a computer’s CPU but in communication with it, as a webcam, flash drive, or keyboard:

      In this section we discuss input and output devices that are used peripherally with the computer.

   2. in a way that is separate from a network’s host computer but in communication with it, as a shared input terminal, printer, or backup drive in a workplace:

      Resources offered by the new networking system will be used more intensively on any peripherally connected computer or router.

Other Words From

• un·pe·riph·er·al·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of peripherally¹

First recorded in 1800–10; 2000–05 peripherally fordef 4; peripheral ( def ) + -ly ( def )

Example Sentences

Fight or flight is about not being able to see anything peripherally.

From Salon

Then, peripherally to her right, she saw an orange flash.

From New York Times

Ironically, the biggest immediate threat to Netanyahu is only peripherally related to the war.

From Seattle Times

I knew him peripherally but had never questioned him before.

From Salon

Still peripherally engaged in the literary scene, Soon encounters an aging author named Echo, the “enfant terrible of South Korean letters,” whose novels are finally being translated into English by a small press.

From Los Angeles Times