Dictionary.com
definitions
  • synonyms

redundant

[ri-duhn-duhnt]
See more synonyms for redundant on Thesaurus.com
adjective
  1. characterized by verbosity or unnecessary repetition in expressing ideas; prolix: a redundant style.
  2. being in excess; exceeding what is usual or natural: a redundant part.
  3. having some unusual or extra part or feature.
  4. characterized by superabundance or superfluity: lush, redundant vegetation.
  5. Engineering.
    1. (of a structural member) not necessary for resisting statically determined stresses.
    2. (of a structure) having members designed to resist other than statically determined stresses; hyperstatic.
    3. noting a complete truss having additional members for resisting eccentric loads.Compare complete(def 8), incomplete(def 3).
    4. (of a device, circuit, computer system, etc.) having excess or duplicate parts that can continue to perform in the event of malfunction of some of the parts.
  6. Linguistics. characterized by redundancy; predictable.
  7. Computers. containing more bits or characters than are required, as a parity bit inserted for checking purposes.
  8. Chiefly British. removed or laid off from a job.
Show More

Origin of redundant

1595–1605; < Latin redundant- (stem of redundāns), present participle of redundāre to flow back, overflow, be excessive. See redound, -ant
Related formsre·dun·dant·ly, adverb

Synonyms

See more synonyms for on Thesaurus.com
1. verbose, repetitive. See wordy. 2. excessive; useless; superfluous, tautologous.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words

superfluousunnecessarybombasticdiffuseextraextravagantinordinatelong-windedloquaciousoratoricalpaddedprolixsparesupernumerarysurplustautologicalunwantedverbosewordyinessential

Examples from the Web for redundant

Contemporary Examples

Historical Examples

  • Its attributes of youth are the activity and eager life with which it is redundant.

    Sketches from Memory

    Nathaniel Hawthorne

  • And this rosiness, so like redundant vigor, was it not the flush of her hot task?

    Dr. Sevier

    George W. Cable

  • Nor is the term Olympus as applied to these hills a redundant flight of fancy.

    Legends of Wailuku

    Charlotte Hapai

  • The neck of the flap is sure to be redundant and prominent, but can be pared.

  • The redundant use of the personal pronoun with the relative is common.

    History of Phoenicia

    George Rawlinson

British Dictionary definitions for redundant

redundant

adjective
  1. surplus to requirements; unnecessary or superfluous
  2. verbose or tautological
  3. deprived of one's job because it is no longer necessary for efficient operationhe has been made redundant
  4. (of components, information, etc) duplicated or added as a precaution against failure, error, etc
Show More
Derived Formsredundantly, adverb

Word Origin

C17: from Latin redundans overflowing, from redundāre to run back, stream over; see redound
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for redundant

adj.

1590s, from Latin redundantem (nominative redundans), present participle of redundare, literally "overflow, pour over; be over-full;" figuratively "be in excess," from re- "again" (see re-) + undare "rise in waves," from unda "a wave" (see water (n.1)). Of persons, in employment situations, from 1928, chiefly British. Related: Redundantly.

Show More
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper