noun

digression

dye-GRESH-un/daɪˈɡreʃn/

A temporary departure from the main subject or course.

The speaker's brief digression about a dog interrupts the lecture on the Moon.

A three-moment lecture sequence shows a speaker explaining the Moon, briefly interrupting himself to share a personal dog photograph, then returning to the same lunar diagram: a temporary departure from the main subject in speech.

Etymology

diLatinapart, aside

+gressLatinto step, go

+ionLatinact or process

A digression is literally an act of “stepping aside.” The Latin sense of going away becomes a departure from the main subject, treating speech or writing as a course one follows.

In context

Progressive Discussions131:00

so anyway that's just digression right there so you know the other thing is antibiotics

Open Topic Talk-Holistic Health-Fitness-Sports-Current Issues-Practical Advice-Relationships

More examples

After a short digression, he returns to the budget proposal.
The book's frequent digressions make the main argument hard to follow.
Please forgive this digression, but your story reminds me of something.

Forms

digression · digressions

digress verb — To depart temporarily from the main subject.

digressive adjective — Tending to wander from the main subject.

Similar words

aside: Usually a brief inserted comment rather than an extended departure.
tangent: Emphasizes a loosely connected topic that leads discussion away.
detour: Often describes an indirect physical route, not just discussion.