If you describe something as tangential, you mean that it has only a slight or indirect connection with the thing you are concerned with, and is therefore not worth considering seriously.
[formal]
Too much time was spent discussing tangential issues.
They thought the whole thing was a side-show, tangential to the real world of business.
2. adjective
If something is tangentialto something else, it is at a tangent to it.
...point T, where the demand curve is tangential to the straight line L. [+ to]
...the street tangential to the courthouse square.
tangential in British English
(tænˈdʒɛnʃəl)
adjective
1.
of, being, relating to, or in the direction of a tangent
2. Also: transverse astronomy
(of velocity) in a direction perpendicular to the line of sight of a celestial object
Compare radial (sense 6)
3.
of superficial relevance only; digressive
Derived forms
tangentiality (tænˌdʒɛnʃɪˈælɪtɪ)
noun
tangentially (tanˈgentially) or tangentally (tanˈgentally)
adverb
tangential in American English
(tænˈdʒɛnʃəl)
adjective
1.
of, like, or in the direction of a tangent
2.
drawn as a tangent
3.
going off at a tangent; diverging or digressing
4.
merely touching a subject, not dealing with it at length
Derived forms
tangentially (tanˈgentially)
adverb
Examples of 'tangential' in a sentence
tangential
Over the years I'd become accustomed to Molly and her tangential thinking.
James Birrell THE MANANA MAN (2002)
I shrugged away the temptation to meander down fascinating tangential paths and pursued my search for I didn't know what.
Pickard, Nancy NO BODY (2002)
My involvement is...' he paused, thoughtfully, ` tangential.
Nicola Barker BEHINDLINGS (2002)
Theophilus turned to him with a smile, not moving, hardly seeming aware, except in the most tangential sense, of the chaos around him.