Irrelevant Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations

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irrelevant

[ษชหˆrษ›lษ™vษ™nt ]

Definition

Context #1 | Adjective

not important

Not relevant or connected to the matter at hand; having no bearing on or connection with the subject at issue.

Synonyms

extraneous, immaterial, inapplicable, inconsequential.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
irrelevant

Use this word when something does not pertain to the subject at hand.

  • His comments were irrelevant to the topic of discussion
immaterial

Use this word when something is not important or does not matter in a given context.

  • Whether he arrives on time is immaterial to the outcome of the meeting
extraneous

This word is used to refer to something that is not essential or is not needed in a particular situation.

  • Removing extraneous details can help clarify your argument
inapplicable

This word is suitable when something does not apply to the current situation.

  • The old rules are inapplicable to the current system
inconsequential

Use this word when something is so unimportant that it can be ignored.

  • The minor errors in the report were inconsequential

Examples of usage

  • The information he provided was completely irrelevant to the discussion.
  • Her comments were deemed irrelevant by the committee.
  • The irrelevant details only served to confuse the audience.

Translations

To see the translation, please select a language from the options available.

Interesting Facts

Communication

  • In discussions, mentioning irrelevant facts can confuse the audience and make it hard to follow the main point.
  • In academic writing, staying relevant is crucial for maintaining clarity and focus in arguments.

Psychology

  • Cognitive overload occurs when irrelevant information distracts the brain, hindering decision-making and learning.
  • Research shows that when people focus on irrelevant details, their ability to remember important information decreases.

Technology

  • In digital marketing, irrelevant ads can lead to user disengagement and negatively impact a brand's reputation.
  • Search engines aim to filter out irrelevant content to provide users with the most pertinent results for their queries.

Pop Culture

  • In many comedy shows, irrelevant humor is a common technique to create surprise and entertain the audience.
  • Reality TV often includes irrelevant drama to attract viewers, distracting them from the main storyline.

Origin of 'irrelevant'

Main points about word origin

  • The word comes from Latin 'irrelevans', where 'in-' means 'not' and 'relevans' means 'to be related'.
  • It first appeared in English in the early 19th century, relating to the concept of relevance in discussions and debates.

The word 'irrelevant' originated from the Latin word 'irrelevans', which is a combination of 'ir-' (not) and 'relevans' (relevant). The term has been used in English since the 16th century to describe something that is not pertinent or applicable to the current situation.


See also: irrelevance, relevancy.

Word Frequency Rank

At #6,640 in frequency, this word belongs to advanced vocabulary. It's less common than core vocabulary but important for sophisticated expression.