Definition of ANCILLARY (original) (raw)
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 Bitcoin miners can participate in ancillary services with portions of their load, allowing ERCOT to control their energy use. —Becca Bratcher, Forbes, 3 Sep. 2024 Shelter and ancillary costs are sharply higher than vouchers, not to mention the more diffuse social and economic consequences of housing instability. —New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 4 May 2024 However, the airline is not alone in rolling out major changes as Spirit and Frontier have adjusted their business models to meet consumer demand and boost ancillary revenue. —Stella Shon, Travel + Leisure, 6 Aug. 2024 However, the data for ancillary fees doesn't separate how much comes from EarlyBird Check-In and how much comes from charges unrelated to boarding upgrades, such as in-flight purchases. —Michael Salerno, The Arizona Republic, 30 Apr. 2024 See all Example Sentences for ancillary 
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'ancillary.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1663, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Time Traveler
The first known use of ancillary was in 1663
Dictionary Entries Near ancillary
Cite this Entry
“Ancillary.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ancillary. Accessed 19 Sep. 2024.
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Last Updated: 13 Sep 2024 - Updated example sentences
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