# redundant

/ɹɪˈdəndənt/ (US) · /ɹɪdˈʌndənt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/redundant
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. no longer needed

adjective · CEFR B2

not needed anymore because there is already enough of something or it has been replaced.

For teachers: exceeding what is necessary or natural; superfluous to requirements.

- The new bridge made the old ferry service redundant.
- The rapid advancement of automated software has rendered many traditional manual data-entry tasks redundant within the accounting department.

### 2. losing a job

adjective · CEFR B2 · British English

losing your job because your employer no longer needs anyone to do that work.

For teachers: dismissed from employment because the role is no longer required by the employer.

- He was made redundant after the factory closed down.
- Following the merger, the company announced that two hundred staff members would be made redundant to reduce operating costs.

Usage: Commonly used in the phrase 'to be made redundant'.

Teaching tip: This is the standard term in the UK and Australia for being laid off; Americans usually say 'laid off' instead.

### 3. repetitive writing

adjective · CEFR C1 · Academic

using more words than you need to explain something.

For teachers: characterised by unnecessary repetition in expressing ideas; pleonastic.

- The phrase 'tasty and delicious' is redundant because the words mean the same thing.
- The editor suggested removing the final paragraph, arguing that the points made were redundant and added little to the overall thesis.

### 4. safety backup

adjective · CEFR C1 · Technical

having a second part ready to work if the first part fails.

For teachers: relating to a component or system that acts as a backup to ensure continued operation in the event of a failure.

- The aircraft has redundant power systems to keep it flying if one engine fails.
- To prevent data loss, the server architecture includes redundant hard drives that mirror information in real time.

Usage: Often used in engineering and computing contexts.

## Examples

- The new software makes the old system completely redundant.
- After the corporate merger, many administrative roles became redundant, forcing the company to let several employees go.
- The author's prose was heavily criticized for being redundant, as she frequently used three synonymous adjectives where a single precise word would have sufficed.

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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.