irrelevance

Intermediate (B1)

IPA: /ɪˈrɛl.ə.vəns/

KK: /ɪˈrɛl ə vəns/

noun

Definition

The state of not being connected or related to the topic or issue at hand.

Example

The irrelevance of his comments made it difficult to follow the discussion.

Conversation

I was thinking about our discussion yesterday.

Yeah, I remember it well; what about it?

I realized some of my points were just filled with irrelevance.

It's okay, we all have those moments; it happens to the best of us.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Synonyms

insignificance

unimportance

inapplicability

Antonyms

relevance

importance

significance

Root Explanation

Irrelevance → It is formed from "in-" (meaning not) and "relevare" (meaning to lift up or raise). The word describes something that is not raised up or not pertinent to the matter at hand.

Memory Tip

Think of something that is 'not' ('in-') 'lifted up' or 'raised' ('relevare') in importance — that's why irrelevance means it doesn't matter.

Visually Confused Words