parenthetical
A parenthetical statement is one that explains or qualifies something. You can call such a statement a parenthetical, (especially when it's in parentheses).
Have you ever said something like "I'm hungry!" and then added "...but I only want French fries"? That second statement is parenthetical: it clarifies the first statement. Just like words in parentheses (like these words) add clarity to a sentence, parenthetical words in speech help make something clearer or give extra information. You can call these statements (or words that actually are inside parentheses) parentheticals; and while parentheticals aren't the most important ideas, they help support those ideas.
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qualifying or explaining; placed or as if placed in parentheses“parenthetical remarks”synonyms: parentheticincident, incidental(sometimes followed by `to') minor or casual or subordinate in significance or nature or occurring as a chance concomitant or consequence
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an expression in parentheses“his writing was full of parentheticals”synonyms: parenthetical expressiontype of:adjuncta construction that can be used to extend the meaning of a word or phrase but is not one of the main constituents of a sentence
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Vocabulary lists containing parenthetical
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