tangentially

/tænˈdʒɛnʃəli/

ADVERB

1. In an indirectly related manner

In a way that has only a slight, indirect, or peripheral connection to a subject rather than being directly relevant to it.

Describes information, ideas, or experiences that are related to a subject only indirectly or to a limited extent.

His remarks were tangentially related to the topic, but they did not add much to the discussion.
The book explores ideas that are only tangentially connected to its central theme.
Her experience was tangentially relevant to the position, although it was not directly related to the job.

Describes referring to a subject briefly or incidentally without making it the main focus of a conversation or discussion.

She mentioned tangentially that she had visited the city, then returned to the main subject.
The speaker referred tangentially to an earlier disagreement without discussing it in detail.
He brought up the issue tangentially while explaining a different point.

Describes speaking or writing in a way that briefly wanders away from the central topic toward a different subject.

The discussion proceeded tangentially, moving between several loosely connected subjects.
He spoke tangentially for several minutes before returning to the original question.

ADVERB

In a direction that touches a curve at a particular point and follows the tangent at that point.

Describes movement, force, or orientation along a tangent to a curve or circular path at a given point.