IRRELEVANT Definition & Meaning

View synonyms for

irrelevant

[ ih-rel-uh-vuhnt ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

adjective

not relevant; not applicable or pertinent:
His lectures often stray to interesting but irrelevant subjects.
Law. (of evidence) having no probative value upon any issue in the case.

irrelevant

/ ɪˈ��ɛ��ə��ə�Գ� /

adjective

not relating or pertinent to the matter at hand; not important

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Pronunciation Note

The pronunciation of irrelevant [ih-, rel, -, uh, -v, uh, nt], as [ih-, rev, -, uh, -l, uh, nt], as if spelled irrevelant, is the result of metathesis, the transposition of two sounds, in this case, the [l] and the [v]. Relevant, the base word, is occasionally subject to the same process. Analogy with words like prevalent and equivalent may play a role. A similar reordering of the [l] and [v] consonant sounds, althought not a strict one-to-one metathesis, can be heard for Calvary [kal, -v, uh, -ree] when pronounced [kav, -, uh, l-ree]. Here the transposition is reinforced by the existence of the familiar word cavalry.

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Derived Forms

��ˈ��𱹲��Գ��, noun
��ˈ��𱹲��Գٱ��, adverb

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Other �y��vlog Forms

��·���·��Գ�·�� adverb

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�y��vlog History and Origins

Origin of irrelevant¹

First recorded in 1780–90

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

If a player uses excessive force, whether he takes the ball or not is irrelevant - it would still meet the threshold for a red card.

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However, that silence on immigration status is irrelevant in this case.

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Ben thinks what happens online is too often dismissed by adults as being irrelevant to the real world.

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Mr Hess, for his part, compared the department to a "McGuffin" - a plot device famously used by Alfred Hitchcock to develop a character's plot arc, while at the same time being largely irrelevant.

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Judge Almandi also ruled that Mr Stone and his lawyers should face sanctions for filing "frivolous" arguments, that included "vague... and incomprehensible mixtures of factual assertions and conclusions, subjective opinions, and other irrelevant evidence".

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