Vocabulary Spotlight
Adventitious
Part of Speech: Adjective
Definition: Happening by chance rather than design or inherent nature; accidental.
“The plant developed adventitious roots in response to the excess moisture.”
Pronunciation
[ad-ven-tish-uhs]
Synonyms, Antonyms & Related Words
Synonyms
Incidental
Random
Unplanned
Fortuitous
Antonyms
Intentional
Inherent
Essential
Intrinsic
Related Words
Extrinsic
Spontaneous
Word Origin
“Adventitious” comes from the Latin “adventicius,” meaning “coming from outside.” It entered English in the 17th century, often describing something not inherent but occurring accidentally or externally.
Word Family
Adjective: Adventitious – Occurring by chance rather than design.
Adverb: Adventitiously – In an accidental or chance manner.
Mnemonics
Think “advent” + “it” — something that “advents” or comes by chance, not by plan.
Industry-specific Usage
Biology
In plants, adventitious roots grow from non-root parts, often due to environmental factors.
Medicine
In medical terms, adventitious sounds are abnormal noises heard in the lungs during examination.
Geology
Adventitious formations refer to rocks or minerals formed under unusual conditions or by chance.
In Context
Adventitious situations or conditions are those that arise unexpectedly or by external factors, not by design or inherent nature. This concept is useful in both biological and social sciences to describe phenomena influenced by chance.