Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for July 31, 2023 is: ancillary \AN-suh-lair-ee\ adjective

Ancillary is an adjective used in formal speech and writing as a synonym of [supplementary](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/supplementary) to describe things that provide something additional to a main part or function of something else. Ancillary can also mean "of lower or secondary class or rank."

// One ancillary benefit of Beatrice's job at the movie theater is the ability to catch an early glimpse of new releases.

// Her job is to oversee the flagship store and its ancillary outlets.

[See the entry >](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ancillary)

Examples:

"... The Mitre is a gorgeous Grade II-listed boutique hotel, set on the banks of the River Thames. Rebuilt in the mid-18th century, the building dates back to 1665 and was originally used as an ancillary accommodation for guests of King Charles II." — Joanne Shurvell, Forbes, 28 Dec. 2022

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](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/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](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/quantum%20computing)), 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."