Extraneous: meaning, definitions and examples

Used when something is unrelated or not essential to the subject at hand.

• Her comments were extraneous to the discussion.
• The report included extraneous information that was not needed.

Used when something is completely unrelated to the subject or matter being discussed.

• His question was irrelevant to the topic we were talking about.
• The evidence was deemed irrelevant to the case.

Used when something is not required or needed in a particular situation.

• She brought an unnecessary amount of luggage for a weekend trip.
• The extra explanation was unnecessary and just confused everyone.

Used when something is more than what is necessary, often with a negative connotation.

• The extra decorations on the cake were superfluous.
• The report contained a lot of superfluous information.

When referring to something that is irrelevant or unrelated to the subject being discussed.

• The report was cluttered with extraneous information that distracted from the main point.
• Please remove any extraneous details from your essay.

When talking about something that is situated on or related to the outside of something, often in a physical or structural sense.

• The external features of the building include a modern façade and large windows.
• The doctor examined the external injuries first.

When indicating something or someone originating from a different country or culture.

• She enjoys learning about foreign cultures and languages.
• The company is looking to expand into foreign markets.

When referring to the physical space beyond the confines of a building or structure, or metaphorically to beyond the limits of a defined area or group.

• It began to rain just as we stepped outside.
• The decision came from outside the usual channels of communication.