circumstantial

/ˌsɜrkəmˈstænʧəl/

Circumstantial is a word that refers to specific details about something: in other words, about circumstances. Circumstantial evidence might implicate someone's guilt, but it certainly doesn't prove them guilty.

The word circumstances refers to the facts of your life: everyone has different circumstances. So the word circumstantial refers to the specific details of some situation. This word is most often heard in the term circumstantial evidence, which you may have heard on a TV crime or trial program. Circumstantial evidence might lead a detective to suspect someone's guilt, but eyewitness testimony may be needed to convince the jury.

Definitions of circumstantial

1. adjective

   based primarily on surmise rather than adequate evidence
   synonyms: conjectural, divinatory, hypothetic, hypothetical, supposed, suppositional, suppositious, supposititious

   theoretic, theoretical

   concerned primarily with theories or hypotheses rather than practical considerations
2. adjective

   fully detailed and specific about particulars
   “a circumstantial report about the debate”

   synonyms:

   specific

   (sometimes followed by `to') applying to or characterized by or distinguishing something particular or special or unique