# extraneous

/ɛkˈstɹeɪniəs/ (US) · /ɛkstɹˈeɪniəs/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Adjective

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/extraneous
Updated: 2026-05-26

## Definition

not necessary or not related to what you are talking about. You use this to describe things that are extra and might be a distraction.

For teachers: not essential or relevant to the matter at hand; superfluous. Often used to describe information, details, or elements that do not contribute to the core purpose.

## Examples

- Please remove any extraneous details from your report.
- The professor asked the students to focus on the main argument and ignore any extraneous information in the text.
- While the technical specifications are impressive, the marketing team must ensure that the final presentation does not include any extraneous data that might confuse the average consumer.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.