1
Unrelated evidence
Having no logical bearing on a claim.
Example
The artist's birthplace is irrelevant to the painting's chemical composition.
irrelevant
/ɪˈreləvənt/ · ih-REL-uh-vuhntadjective
Not connected to or useful for the matter being considered.
Use irrelevant when information has no bearing on the question, claim, or decision at hand.
What irrelevant Really Means
The word becomes easier to use when its closely related senses are separated and compared.
2
Beside the point
Failing to address the question under discussion.
Example
The reply was accurate but irrelevant to the committee's concern.
3
No longer useful
Lacking practical importance in changed circumstances.
Example
The new discovery made the earlier distinction largely irrelevant.
Use irrelevant Naturally
Notice how the surrounding noun or clause reveals the exact shade of meaning.
The artist's birthplace is irrelevant to the painting's chemical composition.
The reply was accurate but irrelevant to the committee's concern.
The new discovery made the earlier distinction largely irrelevant.
Precision Matters
Irrelevant overlaps with several common words, but each carries a different emphasis.
irrelevant
vs.Has no bearing on the issue.
peripheral
Is secondary but may still be related.
irrelevant
vs.Is unrelated.
superfluous
Is related but unnecessary or excessive.
irrelevant
vs.Has no useful connection.
pertinent
Directly concerns the matter.
irrelevant
vs.Concerns relevance, not clarity.
explicit
Concerns direct expression.
Test irrelevant in Context
The personal preference has no bearing on the method's validity.
1
Whether the researcher enjoys classical music is ___ to evaluating whether her statistical method is valid.