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irrelevance

irrelevance

10 5.3
Something not related to the main topic
  • noun
  • /ɪˈrɛləvəns/
translation icon : irrelevancia
  • Have the failures of writing demonstrated the irrelevance of all writing?
  • irrelevance or relevance
  • the irrelevance of religion
  • political irrelevance

I think the thing that struck me most was the irrelevance of it.

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Examples

  • Virtually all levels of society begin to experience a sense of irrelevance, if not exclusion.

    Academic text (1996)
  • Many students felt a growing sense of irrelevance during the lecture, as the topic did not connect to their interests.

  • People feel a sense of irrelevance, especially men.

  • I think the thing that struck me most was the irrelevance of it.

  • One obvious reason for this irrelevance is that schools are failing to change with the times.

    Academic text (2011)
  • I think Europe's growing irrelevance has a lot to do with the defense they have around all this stuff.

  • In a way, this is what the students were complaining about in the sixties: the irrelevance of the curriculum.

    Academic text (1997)
  • In the field of writing, today's education is not just an irrelevance; it is positively detrimental to a student's development.

    Academic text (1996)
  • Assertions about the irrelevance of universities are part of a broader and growing mistrust of institutions more generally.

  • After all, teacher evaluations were developed to improve instruction, not to foster irrelevance and mediocrity.

    Academic text (1992)

Synonyms

irrelevancy
vsirrelevance
5 6.6

Something not connected to the main topic

is the more common standard spelling in modern writing
inapplicability
vsirrelevance
1 8.4

The state of not being suitable or useful in a particular situation

is about lack of relation or pertinence rather than practical application
immateriality
vsirrelevance
9.7

Not important to the subject or discussion

is a general state of not being related, not necessarily final
unrelatedness
vsirrelevance
7.6

A lack of connection between things

focuses on not being pertinent to the current matter rather than mere disconnection
extraneousness
vsirrelevance
9.9

The fact of not being related or important to the main point

refers to lack of relation or pertinence, not just unneeded detail
inappositeness
vsirrelevance
9.9

The state of not being suitable for a situation or purpose

means not related or pertinent, focusing on connection rather than suitability
inaptness
vsirrelevance
  • Formal
9.1

Not suitable or right for a situation

highlights lack of relation to the matter, not only poor suitability

Antonyms

118 3.4

A close connection to what is being discussed

1 6.3

How much something connects to the topic being discussed

How Relevant

central
528 2.1
relevant
592 3.3
related
2.3
tangential
7 8.1
irrelevance
10 5.3

Surface Forms

irrelevance singular
irrelevances plural

Morphology

irrelevance = relevance (transparent) = ir + relevance

A straightforward negative prefix 'ir-' added to the noun 'relevance' yields the meaning 'not relevant', which is directly inferable by learners.

Etymology

Irrelevance starts with ir- meaning 'not' and uses the root relev from a Latin word meaning 'to lift', the same root you see in elevator and relief. So irrelevance is like 'not lifting' the main topic — something that does not help or connect to the point.