Meanings
comparative more circumstantially · superlative most circumstantially
- in a circumstantial manner
- In respect to circumstances; not essentially; accidentally.
Of the fancy and intellect, the powers are only circumstantially different.
1665, Joseph Glanvill, Scepsis Scientifica: Or, Confest Ignorance, the Way to Science; […], London: […] E. C[otes] for Henry Eversden […], →OCLC - In every circumstance or particular; minutely.
To set down somewhat circumstantially, not only the events, but the manner of my trials.
1665, Robert Boyle, New Experiments and Observations Touching Cold
Synonyms & antonyms
adverbin minute detail
adverbwithout advance planning
Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.
Origin
- Latincircumstāns
- Latincircumstantia
- Englishcircumstantial
- Englishcircumstantially
From circumstantial + -ly.
Full word history & related roots →Translations
French circonstanciellement
- circonstanciellementin a circumstantial manner
Polish okolicznościowo, przypadkowo
- okolicznościowoin a circumstantial manner
- przypadkowoaccidentally
- drobiazgowominutely
- szczegółowominutely
Spanish circunstancialmente
- circunstancialmentein a circumstantial manner
Cite this entry
circumstantially. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/circumstantially
“circumstantially.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/circumstantially. Accessed November 3, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “circumstantially,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/circumstantially.
Source: circumstantially on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.