ancillary

adjective

an·​cil·​lary ˈan(t)-sə-ˌler-ē How to pronounce ancillary (audio)
-ˌle-rē,
 especially British  an-ˈsi-lə-rē
Synonyms of ancillarynext
1
: subordinate, subsidiary
the main factory and its ancillary plants
2
: auxiliary, supplementary
the need for ancillary evidence
ancillary expenses
ancillary equipment
ancillary noun

Did you know?

If you’re already familiar with ancillary, pull up a chair and help yourself to a side dish of trivia. The word comes from the Latin word ancilla, meaning "a female servant," which also gave us the rarer English word ancilla, meaning "an aid to achieving or mastering something difficult." While the English ancilla (which made its debut a couple of centuries after ancillary) is unlikely to be encountered except in very specialized contexts (such as philosophy or quantum computing), ancillary picks up on the notion of providing aid or support in a way that supplements something else. In particular, the word often describes something that is in a position of secondary importance, such as the "ancillary products in a company's line."

Examples of ancillary in a Sentence

The lockout rocked the NHL, but among the ancillary benefits has been the emergence of young players who apprenticed for an additional season in the minors … —Michael Farber, Sports Illustrated, 21 Nov. 2005
I am in love with a man who is in love with boats. As far as ancillary loves are concerned, I understand things could be worse. Sadly, I do not love boats. —Ann Patchett, Gourmet, May 2003
Traditionally museums have been built to house collections, and for ancillary functions such as storage, conservation, administration, and education. —Jayne Merkel, Wilson Quarterly, Winter 2002
Paleolithic hunters and gatherers obtained an abundance of complete protein, mostly from wild game; their vegetable foods were an ancillary protein source. This pattern prevailed until agriculture transformed it, shifting the human diet away from meat and toward plant food. —S. Boyd Eaton et al., The Paleolithic Prescription, 1988
The company hopes to boost its sales by releasing ancillary products.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The decrease is attributed to a reduction in unit sales and ancillary revenue. —Quartz Bot, Quartz, 14 Nov. 2024 The big picture: After the pandemic's onset, the clinical trial space attracted significant investor interest — and as capital poured in, they were drawn to ancillary services to help make trials more efficient. —Claire Rychlewski, Axios, 18 Oct. 2024 Fulfilling this role is hard enough without distractions from ancillary political and social issues. —Wayne Winegarden, Forbes, 2 Oct. 2024 Fashion historian Alexandre Samson, a curator at the Palais Galliera museum in Paris, noted that fashion houses have peddled their own fragrances ever since Paul Poiret launched his own perfume in 1911, and fashion shows have historically provided a showcase for these ancillary products. —Jennifer Weil, WWD, 5 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for ancillary 

Word History

Etymology

see ancilla

First Known Use

1663, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of ancillary was in 1663

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Dictionary Entries Near ancillary

ancilla

ancillary

ancipital

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Ancillary.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ancillary. Accessed 29 Nov. 2024.

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Medical Definition

ancillary

1 of 2 adjective
an·​cil·​lary
ˈan(t)-sə-ˌler-ē, especially British an-ˈsil-ə-rē
: being auxiliary or supplementary
use of a drug as ancillary to surgical treatment
ancillary staff
ancillary diagnostic services

ancillary

2 of 2 noun
plural ancillaries
1
British : one who assists or is supplementary to another person
2
: a supplemental diagnostic or therapeutic medical service (as magnetic resonance imaging or radiotherapy)

Legal Definition

ancillary

adjective
an·​cil·​lary ˈan-sə-ˌler-ē, an-ˈsi-lə-rē How to pronounce ancillary (audio)
1
: having a subordinate, subsidiary, or secondary nature
ancillary functions
an ancillary agreement
2
: serving as a supplement or addition
ancillary documents
3
: directly related
ancillary claims
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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