Irrelevance: meaning, definitions and examples

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irrelevance

[ɪˈrɛlɪvəns ]

Definitions

^{Context #1 | Noun}

in conversation

The quality or state of being irrelevant or not important.

Synonyms

immateriality, insignificance, unimportance.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
irrelevance	Use when referring to something that is not related to the current topic or situation. Your comment about the weather is an irrelevance in this budget meeting
unimportance	Used to describe something that holds little to no importance or priority, often in everyday discussions. In the grand scheme of things, the color of the report cover is of unimportance
insignificance	Refers to something that is minor or trivial, often highlighting its lack of impact or worth. Her suggestions were dismissed due to their apparent insignificance to the project's success
immateriality	Typically used in formal or legal contexts to denote something that lacks substance or importance to a matter being discussed. The defendant's previous actions are of immateriality to this particular case

Examples of usage

The speaker's comments were met with silence, highlighting the irrelevance of his points.
His constant interruptions only added to the overall irrelevance of the meeting.
The irrelevance of his argument became apparent as the discussion progressed.

^{Context #2 | Noun}

in journalism

The lack of connection or pertinence to the main topic or story.

Synonyms

extraneousness, irrelevancy, tangentiality.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
irrelevance	Typically used to describe a situation where something is not applicable or related to the matter at hand. It’s commonly utilized in both formal and informal contexts. His comment was deemed an irrelevance to the main discussion. The extra details added irrelevance to the report.
irrelevancy	This word has a similar meaning to 'irrelevance,' but it is less commonly used. It also typically appears in formal contexts or discussions. The lawyer objected to the witness's statement on grounds of irrelevancy. She pointed out the irrelevancy of his argument.
extraneousness	Used in formal contexts to indicate that something is not essential or is unrelated to the main subject. This word often implies that the extraneous information can be distracting or unnecessary. The editor removed the extraneousness of the additional material to streamline the article. We need to eliminate any extraneousness to focus on the core issues.
tangentiality	This term is used when something is slightly related but not directly relevant to the main subject. Often found in academic or intellectual discussions, it implies a more subtle or indirect connection to the topic. His speech, though interesting, suffered from tangentiality that confused the main point. The conversation drifted into tangentiality, losing the thread of the original issue.

Examples of usage

The inclusion of irrelevant details only served to create confusion and irrelevance in the article.
Readers quickly lost interest due to the irrelevance of the information presented.

Interesting Facts

Etymology

The word comes from the Latin root 'relevare,' meaning 'to raise up,' which evolved into the prefix 'ir-' to indicate 'not or opposite.'
Used in the English language since the late 16th century, it was derived from the concept of being connected or relevant to a topic.
The suffix '-ance' denotes a state or quality, helping to form the meaning of being not relevant.

Psychology

In cognitive psychology, irrelevant information can lead to distractions, impacting focus and retention of important details.
The 'Irrelevant Sound Effect' describes how background noise or sounds that do not pertain to a task can impair memory performance.
Studies show that people often struggle to filter out irrelevant details when making decisions, leading to poorer outcomes.

Communication

In conversations, introducing irrelevant points can create confusion, leading to misunderstandings or loss of interest among listeners.
Effective communication often requires staying on topic, as introducing irrelevant information can derail the primary message.
The principle of relevance is crucial in both speeches and writing; straying off-topic can cause audiences to disengage.

Education

In educational settings, focusing on relevant material is key for students to grasp concepts rather than being overwhelmed by unrelated information.
Teachers often emphasize the importance of relevance in assignments to help students understand the practical applications of what they learn.
Curriculum development includes assessing the relevance of topics to ensure they meet the needs and interests of students.

Pop Culture

In today's digital age, relevance is crucial for social media content; posts that don’t connect with trends often get overlooked.
Reality TV has made irrelevance a topic for discussion, as some participants are famous for being 'not relevant' to the show's theme.
Internet memes often highlight irrelevance humorously, showcasing how unrelated images or phrases can become viral.

Translations

Translations of the word "irrelevance" in other languages:

🇵🇹 irrelevância

🇮🇳 अप्रासंगिकता

🇩🇪 Irrelevanz

🇮🇩 ketidakrelevanan

🇺🇦 недоречність

🇵🇱 nieistotność

🇯🇵 無関係

🇫🇷 irrélevance

🇪🇸 irrelevancia

🇹🇷 önemsizlik

🇰🇷 무관함

🇸🇦 عدم الصلة

🇨🇿 nepodstatnost

🇸🇰 nepodstatnosť

🇨🇳 无关紧要

🇸🇮 nepomembnost

🇮🇸 óviðeigandi

🇰🇿 маңызсыздық

🇬🇪 არასაჭიროება

🇦🇿 əhəmiyyətsizlik

🇲🇽 irrelevancia

Word Frequency Rank

Positioned at #24,592, this word is part of extensive vocabulary. It's relatively rare in general usage but may be important in specific fields or formal writing.

...
24589 misread
24590 disfigurement
24591 unbuttoned
24592 irrelevance
24593 dowager
24594 signet
24595 probationer
...