Definition of incidental

The word "incidental" comes from the Latin "incidentalis," meaning "happening by chance" or "occurring accidentally." This word was adopted into English in the 16th century, primarily as a legal term to describe things that happened during a court case but were not directly related to the main issues at hand. In the original legal sense, incidental referred to matters that were not essential or material to the case, but nevertheless had to be dealt with in the course of the proceedings. This use of the term can still be seen in modern law, where incidental refers to issues that are subsidiary or accidental to the main issue being adjudicated. In everyday usage, "incidental" has acquired a more general meaning, referring to things that happen as a side effect or by chance, rather than being directly intended or planned. For example, one might say that a side effect of taking a certain medication is an incidental loss of hair, since this is an unintended consequence that occurs separately from the medication's intended effect. The broad range of meanings for "incidental" in everyday usage has led some people to disagree about the precise definition of the term, particularly when it comes to legal or philosophical discussions of justice or fairness. In such contexts, incidental may have different connotations depending on the specific context in which it is being used. In summary, the word "incidental" comes from Latin, where it referred to things that happened by chance or accidental to legal cases. Its modern usage has broadened to cover any side effect or accidental consequence, but its meaning is not entirely clear in all contexts.