irrelevant

/ɪˈrɛləvənt/

Say it: ih-REL-uh-vunt

adjective Not connected with or pertinent to the matter at hand; not applicable or important in a particular context.
His personal feelings are irrelevant to whether the facts of the case are true.

📖 Seen in the wild

The judge ruled that the witness's testimony was irrelevant to the current proceedings.
collected by @vocablast

✏️ irrelevant in a sentence

The judge ruled that the witness's past was irrelevant to the current trial.
Let's stick to the main points; the other details are largely irrelevant for now.
Many skills learned a century ago have become irrelevant in the modern workplace.
Whether you think the movie is good is irrelevant; we're discussing its box office performance.
The spokesperson dismissed the reporter's question as completely irrelevant.
She considered the cost irrelevant because she had already decided to buy it.
He filled his speech with anecdotes that were interesting but ultimately irrelevant to his central argument.

🔁 Synonyms & antonyms

unrelated immaterial inapplicable extraneous beside the point off-topic peripheral inapposite

unrelated · implies a simple, factual lack of connection.

immaterial · often used in formal or legal contexts to mean something has no bearing on the outcome.

inapplicable · suggests something does not apply or fit in a specific situation.

extraneous · implies something comes from an outside source and is not an essential part.

Opposites: relevant, pertinent, germane, applicable, material

🌱 Where it comes from

The word is a straightforward combination of the prefix 'ir' (a form of 'in' meaning 'not') and 'relevant'. 'Relevant' itself comes from the Latin verb 'relevare', meaning 'to raise up' or 'lighten'. Therefore, something irrelevant is a point that does not 'raise up' or bear upon the matter being discussed.

🧩 How it's used

Common patterns:

completely irrelevantlargely irrelevantdeemed irrelevantirrelevant detailirrelevant to the discussion

'Irrelevant' is a neutral and widely used word appropriate for most contexts, from casual conversation to formal writing. Be careful not to confuse it with 'impertinent'. While 'impertinent' can mean irrelevant, its primary modern meaning is 'rude and disrespectful'. Using it to mean irrelevant can sound dated or cause your listener to think you are calling them rude.

Word family: irrelevance, irrelevantly

💬 Quick answers

What does 'irrelevant' mean in simple terms?

It means something is not related to or important for the current subject. If you're talking about apples, the topic of cars is irrelevant.

What is the difference between 'irrelevant' and 'unrelated'?

'Unrelated' suggests a simple lack of any connection. 'Irrelevant' is more specific, meaning something is not useful or important to the *current* topic, even if a distant connection might exist.

Is it rude to call someone's comment irrelevant?

The word itself isn't rude, but it can be perceived as dismissive. Saying someone's point is 'irrelevant' directly challenges its value in a conversation, so tone matters.

What is the noun for 'irrelevant'?

The noun is 'irrelevance'. It refers to the state of not being connected or important, as in, 'The irrelevance of his argument was clear to everyone.'

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