irrelevant
Americanadjective
-
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.
adjective
Pronunciation
The pronunciation of irrelevant , as , as if spelled irrevelant, is the result of metathesis, the transposition of two sounds, in this case, the and the . 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 and consonant sounds, althought not a strict one-to-one metathesis, can be heard for Calvary when pronounced . Here the transposition is reinforced by the existence of the familiar word cavalry.
Other Word Forms
- irrelevance noun
- irrelevantly adverb
Etymology
Origin of irrelevant
First recorded in 1780–90
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
A quarter of past voters also see the party as "irrelevant", according to a poll released by Angus Reid earlier this week, and 40% say its best days are behind it.
From BBC • Mar. 29, 2026
And important science does not become irrelevant on the scale of years.
From Science Daily • Mar. 29, 2026
But in the long term, it may be irrelevant.
From Barron's • Mar. 13, 2026
Some cinephiles oppose this monetary number focus, saying it’s irrelevant to discussions about the films.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 10, 2026
Hearing the prince and her father discuss the details of the journey had made her feel largely irrelevant.
From "Huntress" by Malinda Lo
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
