irrelevant
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
not related to what you are discussing or doing right now.
not applicable or pertinent to the matter under consideration. Often used to describe evidence or arguments that do not affect a conclusion.
Simple“His personal life is irrelevant to his ability to do the job well.”
In context“The judge ruled that the witness's previous criminal record was irrelevant to the specific facts of the current case.”
UsageCommonly followed by the preposition 'to'.
Synonyms - 02 C1 Advanced
no longer popular, important, or famous in the eyes of the public.
describing a public figure or entity that has lost cultural significance or social media influence. Often used as a dismissive insult in online spaces.
Simple“The singer became irrelevant after failing to release any new music for a decade.”
In context“In the fast-moving world of social media, yesterday's viral stars can become irrelevant within a matter of weeks.”
Teacher's tipThis sense is common in internet culture and celebrity gossip; it is much more aggressive and personal than the standard meaning.
Antonyms
“Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei said on Monday that a 60-day deadline for negotiations included in June’s memorandum of understanding was “irrelevant” because the US had violated the deal early on.”
“Trump also said tariffs would help to reshore industry - but that's largely irrelevant in the case of coffee, which requires a subtropical climate.”
From ir- + relevant.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.