WordValeredundant
no longer needed; superfluous
In more detail
1. (adjective) more than is needed; unnecessary or extra
2. (adjective) (of a person) no longer needed in a job and therefore dismissed from employment
Examples
- The report contains some redundant information that could be removed.
- Many workers became redundant when the factory closed down.
How to use redundant
Redundant describes something that exists in excess of what is required or needed. In British English, it commonly refers to employees laid off due to organizational restructuring; in this context, 'made redundant' is a standard euphemism. The word can carry a neutral technical tone in IT or writing contexts, but when applied to people, it can imply devaluation.
Common phrases
- redundant information
- redundant staff
- made redundant
- redundant position
- completely redundant
- render redundant
Synonyms
unnecessary · superfluous · excessive · surplus · extraneous
Opposites
essential · necessary · indispensable
Word family
redundancy (noun) · redundantly (adverb)
A common mistake
Learners sometimes confuse 'redundant' with 'redundancy' as noun forms, or misuse it to mean 'repetitive' or 'repeated' when the intended meaning is 'unnecessary'.
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