orthogonal
2
8.9
- adjective
- /ɔrˈθɒɡənl/
:
irrelevante
- The suggestions he made were orthogonal to the main topic we were discussing.
And it seems like these two worlds are orthogonal to each other.
- And it seems like these two worlds are orthogonal to each other.
- So I'm totally fine with people exploring directions that are contrary to mine or look orthogonal to mine.
- The So we now have these two things, orthogonal or often oppositional spirituality and rationality.
Examples
-
This suggests that the predisposition to see conspiracies is orthogonal to partisan affiliation.
Academic text (2016) -
If so, then reliance on information technology constitutes a meaningful economic dimension for characterizing Internet firms that is orthogonal to traditional industry boundaries.
Academic text (2003) -
But both of them are orthogonal to that, right?
-
First question, is this orthogonal to this?
-
And it seems like these two worlds are orthogonal to each other.
-
So I guess technically this is orthogonal to the post.
Blog text (29) -
But 4, 5, and 6 are orthogonal to morality.
Blog text (2) -
Louis: your point is orthogonal to the discussion of the iPhone making carriers a dumb pipe.
Blog text (28) -
In this respect, I'd like to introduce Eve Sedgwick's notion that masculinity and femininity are orthogonal.
Academic text (1997) -
Such theorizing based on hypothetical assumptions is orthogonal to empirical testing of those assumptions, even if ultimately the theorizing is useless unless confronted with data.
Academic text (2005)
Synonyms
355
3.6
Not related to the subject people are discussing or to the main point
94
3.5
Not connected to the topic or cause
32
4.2
Not related to the subject or situation
19
7.2
Not important or relevant to a situation
17
7.5
Not related or needed and coming from outside
4
7.3
Not related to the topic being discussed
Not connected to the main topic or activity
Not related to what is being discussed
Antonyms
Compounds
- Specialized
Two things that are at right angles to each other, like lines or vectors
How Relevant
528
2.1
592
3.3
∞
2.3
16
6.5
- Specialized
1
8.5
2
8.9
Surface Forms
Morphology
orthogonal = ortho + gon + al
The sense 'irrelevant/unrelated' is a figurative/metaphorical extension from the geometric sense and is not directly derivable by an average B1 learner from the component parts.
Etymology
A helpful way to remember orthogonal in this sense is to think of two ideas that meet at a right angle — they touch but do not point the same way. Because the roots orthos 'right' and gonia 'angle' give the image of 'at a right angle', saying something is orthogonal to a topic means it is not directly connected.