Irrelevant: Definition, Usage & Common Mistakes

Meaning 1：not relevant (irrelevant)

irrelevant 🔊

/ɪˈrɛl.ə.vənt/

adj.

not connected to or important for what is being discussed or considered.

Illustration of irrelevant: student distracted by birds during a science lesson

not relevant 🔊

➕

/nɒt ˈrɛləvənt/

adj.

Indicates that something is not connected to or important for the subject being discussed.

📁 Category：School Education 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

Prefix 'ir-' (not) + 'relevant', from Latin 'relevare' (to lift up).

💡 Mnemonic

IRRELEVANT: IR (not) + RELEVANT (connected), so it means 'not connected'.

📖 Example

During the group project meeting, Sarah's story about her vacation was irrelevant to our research on climate change. 🔊 In the group project meeting, Sarah's vacation tale had no connection to our climate change research.

🔗 Collocations

completely irrelevant – entirely not connected to the topic

irrelevant details – unrelated pieces of information

deem irrelevant – consider as not important

🔄 Synonyms

unrelated (adj.) – having no connection or relevance

immaterial (adj.) – not important or relevant to the matter at hand

extraneous (adj.) – irrelevant or unrelated to the subject

🚫 Antonyms

relevant (adj.) – closely connected or appropriate to the matter at hand

pertinent (adj.) – relevant or applicable to a particular matter

applicable (adj.) – relevant or appropriate

🌱 Derivatives

irrelevance (n.) – the quality of being irrelevant

irrelevantly (adv.) – in an irrelevant manner

📖 Cultural Story

The word 'irrelevant' emerged in 17th-century English, from 'relevant' (Latin 'relevans', meaning 'raising up'). Adding 'ir-' negates it, denoting something not pertinent, often used in logical arguments to dismiss off-topic points.