Which word refers to something added but not essential?

• A. Accolade
• B. Adjunct
• C. Erratic
• D. Incumbent

Answer: (B)

An adjunct is something added to support or enhance something else, but it isn’t required for the main thing to work. That makes it the best fit for “something added but not essential.” You can think of adjuncts as optional extras: adjunct faculty who teach alongside regular staff, or an adjunct information piece that provides extra context without being necessary for understanding the core material. In grammar, an adjunct is a modifier that adds detail but isn’t essential to the sentence’s core meaning.

The other words point to different ideas. An accolade is praise or an award, not about addition to a main thing. Erratic describes irregular or unpredictable behavior. Incumbent refers to the current holder of an office or something obligatory, not the notion of something added but nonessential.