From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary EnglishRelated topics: Crime & lawcircumstantialcir‧cum‧stan‧tial /ˌsɜːkəmˈstænʃəl◂ $ ˌsɜːr-/ adjective1SC lawbased on something that appears to be true but is not provencircumstantial evidence/caseThe case against McCarthy is based largely on circumstantial evidence.2formalDETAIL including all the detailsThe book includes a long and circumstantial account of Empson’s conversation with the Queen. —circumstantially adverbExamples from the Corpuscircumstantial• Evidence of a link between the arrival of television and the erosion of socialconnections is not merely circumstantial.• Such a contention is, of course, unprovable, since all the evidence is circumstantial and associative.• The state will have to build its case with circumstantial evidence.• They concede, however, that their case against Sharif rests on circumstantial evidence.• The lack of evidence and the circumstantialnature of the testimony caused a public outcry.• A shadow of a smilecreased her mouth; but it was circumstantial, not genuine.• Kids, who are circumstantialoutsiders, tend to identify with such creatures and envision them as their vengefulprotectors.• The case against Coleman was largely circumstantial, supported by some inconclusiveforensic evidence.circumstantial evidence/case• The case against McCarthy is based largely on circumstantial evidence.• And it is usually critical in a circumstantial case.• They concede, however, that their case against Sharif rests on circumstantial evidence.• There was circumstantial evidence a plenty to support the Shijingshan theory.• They also provide circumstantial evidence for a close relationship between mind and brain.• There is strong circumstantial evidence for this.• The aetiologyremainsunknown, but much circumstantial evidencesuggests that immunological mechanisms are involved in the pathogenesis.• Despite the absence of precisemeasures, there are a few types of circumstantial evidence that suggest legislativeweakness.