Describes something that is not primary or independent, but rather dependent on or ancillary to something else. Often used in technical or formal contexts.
この問題は従的なものに過ぎない。
This issue is merely a secondary one.
It is necessary to distinguish between primary and subordinate objectives.
From 従 (subordinate, follow) + 的 (-like, -ish). The exact historical derivation is uncertain; the kanji spelling is conventionally associated with the meaning of subordination.