Extraneous - Meaning, Definition & English Examples
Extraneous means irrelevant or unnecessary, referring to something that is not essential or does not belong to a particular situation. It often describes extra details or distractions.
Definition:
Irrelevant or unrelated to the subject; coming from outside.
Synonyms:
irrelevant, unrelated, superfluous, incidental, immaterial
Part of Speech:
adjective
Antonyms:
relevant, essential, pertinent
Common Collocations:
extraneous information, extraneous details, extraneous factors, extraneous noise
Derivatives:
extraneously, extraneousness
Usage Tips:
Use "extraneous" to describe something unnecessary or not belonging to the main topic or context.
Common Phrases:
extraneous matter, extraneous circumstances, extraneous variables
Etymology:
From Latin *extraneus*, meaning "external" or "foreign."
Examples:
- 1. The teacher asked us to avoid including extraneous details in our essays.
- 2. His argument was weakened by extraneous points that confused the audience.
- 3. The report was cluttered with extraneous data no one needed.
- 4. She ignored the extraneous noise and focused on her work.
- 5. The contract included several extraneous clauses that were later removed.