1a word or phrase inserted as an explanation or afterthought into a passage which is grammatically complete without it, in writing usually marked off by brackets, dashes, or commas:in a challenging parenthesis, Wordsworth comments on the evil effects of contemporary developments
(parentheses) a pair of round brackets ( ) used to mark off a parenthetical word or phrase:the stage number is added in parentheses to the name or formula
2an interlude or interval:the three months of coalition government were a lamentable political parenthesis
in parenthesis
as a digression or afterthought:in parenthesis I should say that I am passing quickly over the significance of these matters
