1. only slightly related to or connected with something; not directly relevant
2. relating to or along a tangent line
Usage: mathematics; geometry

Examples

• His comments were tangential to the main discussion.
• She made several tangential remarks that confused the audience.
• The professor’s tangential stories often distracted from the lesson.
• The report included tangential information that wasn’t necessary.
• Her research was only tangentially related to the project.
• The tangential force acts perpendicular to the radius.
• The conversation took a tangential turn toward politics.