Extraneous Definition & Meaning

extraneous
adjective
  1. not pertinent to the matter under consideration; "an issue extraneous to the debate"; "the price was immaterial"; "mentioned several impertinent facts before finally coming to the point"
  2. not essential; "the ballet struck me as extraneous and somewhat out of keeping with the rest of the play"
  3. not belonging to that in which it is contained; introduced from an outside source; "water free of extraneous matter"; "foreign particles in milk"
  4. coming from the outside; "extraneous light in the camera spoiled the photograph"; "relying upon an extraneous income"; "disdaining outside pressure groups"

Synonyms for extraneous

adulterant adj

making impure or corrupt by adding extraneous materials

♫ Rhymes
adulterating adj

making impure or corrupt by adding extraneous materials; "the adulterating effect of extraneous materials"

♫ Rhymes
external adj

happening or arising or located outside or beyond some limits or especially surface; "the external auditory canal

♫ Rhymes ↔ Synonyms
extrinsic adj

not forming an essential part of a thing or arising or originating from the outside; "extrinsic evidence

♫ Rhymes ↔ Synonyms
foreign adj

of concern to or concerning the affairs of other nations (other than your own); "foreign trade

♫ Rhymes ↔ Synonyms
immaterial adj

of no importance or relevance especially to a law case

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impertinent adj

characterized by a lightly pert and exuberant quality

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irrelevant adj

having no bearing on or connection with the subject at issue; "an irrelevant comment"; "irrelevant allegations"

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outside adv

outside a building; "in summer we play outside" on the outside

♫ Rhymes ↔ Synonyms

Words that rhyme with extraneous

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Usage tips for "extraneous"

Understanding the precise definition of a word helps you use it with confidence. When using "extraneous" in your writing, consider whether you need the word itself or one of its synonyms — subtle differences in meaning can change the tone of a sentence. If you're writing poetry or song lyrics, check the rhymes for extraneous to find words that pair well.

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♫ Rhymes with extraneous ↔ Synonyms for extraneous 🔬 Words containing extraneous

Frequently asked questions

What does extraneous mean?
not pertinent to the matter under consideration; "an issue extraneous to the debate"; "the price was immaterial"; "mentioned several impertinent facts before finally coming to the point" not essential; "the ballet struck me as extraneous and somewhat out of keeping with the rest of the play" not belonging to that in which it is contained; introduced from an outside source; "water free of extraneous matter"; "foreign particles in milk" coming from the outside
What part of speech is extraneous?
Extraneous is an adjective.
How many definitions does extraneous have?
Extraneous has 4 definitions across 1 part of speech (adjective).

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