An indirect cost.
"The company decided to allocate the electricity bill as an indirect cost since it benefits all departments rather than just one specific project."
To access by means of indirection; to dereference.
"The program attempts to access the file system indirectly through a symbolic link rather than pointing directly to the target path."
In plain English: To be indirect means to say something without being direct about it, often by hinting at what you really mean instead of stating it clearly.
"He indirectly told his friend that he was leaving town."
having intervening factors or persons or influences
"reflection from the ceiling provided a soft indirect light"
"indirect evidence"
"an indirect cause"
not direct in spatial dimension; not leading by a straight line or course to a destination
"sometimes taking an indirect path saves time"
"you must take an indirect course in sailing"
descended from a common ancestor but through different lines
"cousins are collateral relatives"
"an indirect descendant of the Stuarts"
extended senses; not direct in manner or language or behavior or action
"making indirect but legitimate inquiries"
"an indirect insult"
"doubtless they had some indirect purpose in mind"
"though his methods are indirect they are not dishonest"
"known as a shady indirect fellow"
Not direct
"The message reached him indirectly through a mutual friend rather than directly from me."
Not of obvious or immediate cause, but as a secondary result
"The rise in unemployment was an indirect consequence of the factory's sudden closure due to outdated machinery."
In plain English: Indirect means happening through something else instead of directly from person to person.
"The light from the lamp shone indirectly onto the table through the curtains."
Usage: Use indirect to describe effects that happen through an intermediate step rather than directly causing them yourself. This distinguishes it from direct actions where the subject is immediately responsible for the outcome.
The word entered English from Middle French and ultimately traces back to the Late Latin term indirectus, which originally meant "not direct." Its meaning has remained consistent since its adoption into the language.