ancillary to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "ancillary to" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to indicate something that is subordinate or secondary to something else. For example: "The additional services provided by the company are ancillary to the product."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Security is not ancillary to any deal.

The New York Times

But they were usually ancillary to the job and dropped at some point.

The Guardian

Finally, someone whose stated purpose was (at least ancillary to) waging war.

The Guardian

Stationery is associated with dull-witted anal retentiveness, being ancillary to more important tasks.

The Guardian - Books

What artists believe, however, is of secondary importance, ancillary to the work itself.

The Guardian - Books

Still, Mr. Powell sometimes seems to resent suggestions that he is ancillary to the peace effort.

The New York Times

To ponder the social niceties ancillary to your misconduct is quibbling.

The New York Times - Magazine

At first, 20-somethings from programs like that were ancillary to the PieLab effort.

The New York Times - Magazine

Banking and commerce were, for the most part, ancillary to plantation agriculture.

Encyclopedia Britannica

It quickly becomes obvious that all these theatrics are not merely ancillary to the tennis.

The New York Times - Sports

These unpaid activities ancillary to earning one's wages are examples of shadow work.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "ancillary to" to clearly indicate that one thing is less important or supportive of another. This helps establish a hierarchy and clarify the roles of different elements in your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "ancillary to" when the items are of equal importance. This phrase should only be used when one aspect truly supports or is secondary to another.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "ancillary to" functions as a prepositional phrase, indicating that something is subordinate or secondary to something else. It is used to show a hierarchical relationship where one element is less important or supportive of another, as confirmed by Ludwig examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

37%

Encyclopedias

14%

Science

24%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "ancillary to" is a grammatically sound and common prepositional phrase used to denote that something is secondary or supportive in nature. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it is most frequently found in News & Media, Encyclopedia and Science contexts, indicating a formal register. When using "ancillary to", ensure that you're accurately representing the hierarchical relationship between elements, and consider simpler alternatives like "secondary to" in more informal settings. Remember, this phrase emphasizes the subordinate role of one component in relation to another.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

subsidiary to

Indicates something that is secondary or dependent on something else, similar to "ancillary to" but with a stronger connotation of being owned or controlled.

secondary to

Emphasizes the lower importance or priority of something compared to something else. It directly points to a hierarchical relationship.

supplementary to

Highlights the function of providing something additional or extra, which supports or enhances the primary thing.

incidental to

Implies that something occurs as a minor consequence or accompaniment. Focuses on the non-essential and chance nature.

adjunct to

Suggests something added or connected but not an essential part. Indicates an element that is joined but maintains its own identity.

peripheral to

Indicates that something is on the edge or outside the main focus, suggesting it's less important or central.

supportive of

Indicates that something provides assistance or backing, highlighting its role in enabling or maintaining something else.

dependent on

Emphasizes the reliance of one thing on another for existence, operation, or validity.

subordinate to

Expresses a clear hierarchy, where one thing is lower in rank or importance than another.

associated with

Indicates a connection or relationship without necessarily implying a hierarchy or dependency.

FAQs

How do I use "ancillary to" in a sentence?

Use "ancillary to" to show that something is secondary or supportive. For example, "The marketing campaign was "ancillary to" the main product launch" indicates the campaign supported the launch but wasn't the primary focus.

What's a simpler way to say "ancillary to"?

You can use phrases like "secondary to", "supplementary to", or "supportive of" depending on the context. These alternatives offer similar meanings with slightly different nuances.

Is "ancillary to" formal or informal?

"Ancillary to" is generally considered a more formal phrase. In informal contexts, simpler alternatives like "related to" or "connected to" might be more appropriate.

What's the difference between "ancillary to" and "integral to"?

"Ancillary to" means something is secondary or supportive, while "integral to" means something is essential or fundamental. For example, if teamwork is "integral to" a project's success, it's absolutely necessary; if marketing is "ancillary to" the project, it helps but isn't essential.