What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
ancillary
Example
The company offers ancillary services such as insurance and maintenance. [ancillary: adjective]
Example
The book includes ancillary materials like a glossary and index. [ancillary: noun]
auxiliary
Example
The generator serves as an auxiliary power source in case of an outage. [auxiliary: adjective]
Example
The chef uses an auxiliary knife for chopping vegetables. [auxiliary: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Auxiliary is more commonly used than ancillary in everyday language, especially in technical or specialized contexts. Ancillary is less common and may be more formal or specialized.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between ancillary and auxiliary?
Both ancillary and auxiliary can be used in formal or technical contexts, but ancillary may be perceived as more formal or specialized due to its less frequent use in everyday language.
