circumstantial

adjective

cir·​cum·​stan·​tial ˌsər-kəm-ˈstan(t)-shəl 

1

: belonging to, consisting in, or dependent on circumstances

a circumstantial case

circumstantial factors

circumstantial evidence

2

: pertinent but not essential : incidental

Revolutions usually happen for both structural and circumstantial reasons.

—A. M. S. Aly

3

: marked by careful attention to detail : abounding in factual details

a circumstantial account of the fight

4

: ceremonial

the circumstantial splendor of the coronation

circumstantiality

ˌsər-kəm-ˌstan(t)-shē-ˈa-lə-tē 

noun

circumstantially

ˌsər-kəm-ˈstan(t)-sh(ə-)lē 

adverb

Synonyms

• blow-by-blow
• detailed
• elaborate
• full
• minute
• particular
• particularized
• thorough

Choose the Right Synonym for circumstantial

circumstantial, minute, particular, detailed mean dealing with a matter fully and usually point by point.

circumstantial implies fullness of detail that fixes something described in time and space.

a circumstantial account of our visit

minute implies close and searching attention to the smallest details.

a minute examination of a fossil

particular implies a precise attention to every detail.

a particular description of the scene of the crime

detailed stresses abundance or completeness of detail.

a detailed analysis of the event

Examples of circumstantial in a Sentence

The evidence is purely circumstantial.

The case against him is circumstantial.

a circumstantial account of the meeting

Recent Examples on the Web

Ibarra's defense attorney, Dustin Kirby, had argued the prosecution's evidence against his client was circumstantial and did not prove his guilt. —Emily Mae Czachor, CBS News, 20 Nov. 2024

Defense attorney Kaitlyn Beck told the judge that the evidence was circumstantial and did not definitively prove Ibarra’s guilt. —Kate Brumback, Los Angeles Times, 20 Nov. 2024

In 2020, Havertz joined Chelsea in a circumstantial transfer. —Sebastian Stafford-Bloor, The Athletic, 2 July 2024

Bateson was never charged with those crimes, and the connection remains circumstantial and speculative. —Katie Rife, EW.com, 13 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

see circumstance

First Known Use

1600, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing circumstantial

• circumstantial evidence

Kids Definition

circumstantial

adjective

cir·​cum·​stan·​tial ˌsər-kəm-ˈstan-chəl 

1

: consisting of, relating to, or depending on circumstances

circumstantial evidence

2

: containing full details

a circumstantial account of what happened

circumstantially

-ˈstanch-(ə-)lē 

adverb

Legal Definition

circumstantial

adjective

cir·​cum·​stan·​tial ˌsər-kəm-ˈstan-chəl 

: belonging to, consisting in, or dependent on circumstances

circumstantially adverb