Tangential — Meaning, Definition, & Examples | SAT Vocabulary
Hopefully you've learned about tangents already, and perhaps you've heard about going off on a tangent. Well, today I present TANGENTIAL.
📣 TL;DR: Tangential means barely touching on the main topic; related only slightly or indirectly. Mnemonic to help remember: A TANGENT line barely touches a circle at one point—similarly, TANGENTIAL ideas barely touch the main topic.
ℹ️ Part of Speech of Tangential
tangential is an ADJECTIVE.
🗣️ Pronunciation of Tangential
IPA: /tænˈdʒɛn.ʃəl/ (See IPA key)
Respelling: tan-JEN-shuhl
📚️ Definition of Tangential
Only slightly related to the main subject; diverging from the main point or purpose. Example: tangential comments in a lecture.
📰 Examples of Tangential
Here are some examples of the word tangential:
The professor’s tangential anecdotes about his cat made the physics lecture surprisingly entertaining, which helped keep students awake.
Studies show that tangential thinking often leads to creative breakthroughs.
The connection between the two events is tangential at best.
✍️ Quiz Yourself
Which of the following would most accurately be described as tangential?
A) A thesis statement that clearly states the essay’s main argument
B) Evidence that directly supports a scientific hypothesis
C) A conclusion that summarizes all key points
D) A sidebar comment about weather during a budget presentation
I will post the answer in the comments.
Thanks for learning some vocab today!