il collaterale

Definition & meaning

Collaterale means collateral, secondary, or indirect: something connected to a main matter but not central to it.

It can also describe something situated alongside something else, such as a side branch or a lateral part.

As a noun, it can refer to a relative in a collateral line, such as a sibling, uncle, or cousin, rather than a direct ancestor or descendant.

Grammar & Word origin

Collaterale is an adjective with the same singular form for masculine and feminine nouns. Its plural is collaterali ↗.

It comes from Latin collateralis, formed from com- (“together”) and latus, lateris (“side”).

Synonyms & antonyms

• secondario ↗ — “secondary”; emphasizes lesser importance rather than a connection to the main matter.
• laterale ↗ — “lateral” or “side”; primarily describes position.
• principale ↗ — “main” or “principal,” the opposite when collaterale means secondary.

Common phrases & collocations

• effetto collaterale ↗ — a side effect.
• danno collaterale ↗ — collateral damage.
• parente collaterale ↗ — a relative in a collateral line.