ancillary

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'ancillary' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it as an adjective to describe something that provides support to a larger system, structure, or situation. For example, "The ancillary systems of the new airplane are designed to improve safety levels."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Nurses went on strike in 1974 and the first major national dispute was the ancillary workers' strike in 1972.

The Guardian

Stephen Mangan and Julian Rhind-Tutt were geeky with an ancillary dimension, an energetic supercharge that turned them into goofballs.

The Guardian - Film

Augean said that the waste it wanted to dispose of was mostly soil and rubble from ancillary buildings on decommissioned nuclear sites, plus waste from other sources such as hospitals and university research laboratories.

The Guardian

In addition, triad societies are often employed by the room operators for protection and they also provide ancillary services such as drugs, prostitution and loan sharking to patrons of the rooms," the report said.

The Guardian

Most of the Labour manifesto proposals that relate to social security have already been announced: the parsimonious and economically senseless two-year cap on child benefit (there are no ancillary plans to make children cheaper to run, for the period) has already been announced by Ed Balls.

The Guardian - Opinion

The ancillary "cover-up" is, of course, the "collective yawn" of the MSM in response to Benghazi (or, as Salon's Alex Pareene delightfully distinguishes the right-wing frenzy from the actual events that occurred, #BENGHAZI).

The Guardian - Opinion

The firm, which controls perhaps 80% of all e-commerce in China, is expanding into ancillary areas to fortify its position.

The Economist

Clerical and ancillary workers will be wanting the same 3.4% nurses were awarded in February.

The Economist

He notes that the government has brought in a measure to give judges more support for ancillary tasks.

The Economist

Over a 35-year period, UCLH will pay for capital, interest and ancillary services such as cleaning, catering and portering.

The Economist

It also writes ancillary software and documentation, all of which enhances the value of the core product.When it comes to the software itself, the company is very much in charge.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "ancillary" to precisely denote something that supports or supplements a primary entity or function. This avoids ambiguity and adds a layer of technical accuracy to your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "ancillary" when simpler words like "additional" or "extra" would suffice. Overusing "ancillary" in everyday language can make your writing sound unnecessarily formal and pretentious.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "ancillary" is as an adjective. It modifies nouns to indicate that they provide support, are secondary, or are supplementary to something else. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's correctly used in English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Formal & Business

25%

Science

20%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "ancillary" functions as an adjective, denoting something supplementary or supportive. Ludwig AI validates its correct usage in written English. It appears frequently across news, business, and technical domains. While its meaning is well-defined, overuse in simple contexts should be avoided. Related terms include "subsidiary" and "auxiliary", each carrying slightly different connotations. Ultimately, "ancillary" is a valuable word for specifying supporting roles and features with precision.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

subsidiary

Emphasizes a direct relationship of being owned or controlled by another entity.

auxiliary

Highlights a role of providing help or support, often in a temporary capacity.

supplementary

Indicates something that is added to enhance or complete something else.

accessory

Implies something non-essential that adds to the convenience or effectiveness of something else.

supporting

Focuses on the act of providing assistance or encouragement.

secondary

Indicates a lower level of importance or priority.

additional

Simply means extra or more, without necessarily implying a supporting role.

complementary

Stresses the idea of enhancing or completing something else, often by providing something lacking.

attendant

Suggests something that accompanies or is associated with something else.

collateral

Implies a related but not directly essential role or impact.

FAQs

How to use "ancillary" in a sentence?

Use "ancillary" to describe something that provides support or is secondary to the main subject. For example, "The hospital relies on "ancillary staff" to maintain cleanliness and order."

What can I say instead of "ancillary"?

You can use alternatives like "subsidiary", "auxiliary", or "supplementary" depending on the specific context.

Which is correct, "ancillary services" or "accessory services"?

"Ancillary services" is generally more appropriate when referring to supporting or supplementary services, especially in formal or technical contexts. "Accessory services" is suitable when referring to optional or non-essential additions.

What's the difference between "ancillary" and "accessory"?

"Ancillary" refers to something that provides necessary support or is secondary, while "accessory" refers to something that is optional and adds convenience or style. Ancillary is essential for the main functionality, while an accessory is not.