superfluous

[soo-pur-floo-uhs]

adjective

1. being more than is sufficient or required; excessive.

   Synonyms: redundant, extra

2. unnecessary or needless.

3. Obsolete.,  possessing or spending more than enough or necessary; extravagant.

superfluous

/ suːˈpɜːflʊəs /

adjective

1. exceeding what is sufficient or required

2. not necessary or relevant; uncalled-for

3. obsolete,  extravagant in expenditure or oversupplied with possessions

Other Word Forms

• superfluously adverb
• superfluousness noun
• unsuperfluous adjective
• unsuperfluously adverb
• unsuperfluousness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of superfluous¹

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English, from Latin superfluus, from super- super- + flu- (stem of fluere “to flow”) + -us -ous

Word History and Origins

Origin of superfluous¹

C15: from Latin superfluus overflowing, from _super- + fluere to flow

Example Sentences

Maybe a few of the how-to asides are superfluous; I really didn’t need a lesson on how to gift wrap books.

From Salon

Back in the winter, when some corners of the sport were bemoaning their heavy spending, they were imagining a world in which they’d actually be able to sell superfluous pieces.

From Los Angeles Times

It’s Lucy’s job to sift through a person’s attributes, both real and imagined, legitimately important and completely superfluous, to determine their compatibility with one of her clients.

From Salon

Originally, King was inspired only to write the middle-aged Chuck chapters, and then a year later he bound those pieces together by adding the boyhood kicker and its superfluous supernatural element.

From Los Angeles Times

Liu said Smith acknowledged “there are certain kinds of goods that we might consider superfluous, or maybe more than basic, like a linen shirt.”

From Salon

Related Words

• excessive 
• expendable 
• gratuitous 
• redundant 
• unneeded www.thesaurus.com
• useless