irrelevance

noun

ir·​rel·​e·​vance i-ˈre-lə-vən(t)s How to pronounce irrelevance (audio)
1
: the quality or state of being irrelevant
2
: something irrelevant

Example Sentences

the irrelevance of the comment brought conversation to a standstill
Recent Examples on the Web For an industry that’s been watching its highest celebration of itself slide into irrelevance for years, that means something. Vulture, 7 Feb. 2022 Steve Wilks saved the Carolina Panthers from irrelevance this season after Matt Rhule ran the franchise into the ground over the past two years. Greg Moore, The Arizona Republic, 29 Jan. 2023 Gemini’s main business, its crypto exchange, is also in danger of fading into irrelevance. Will Daniel, Fortune, 5 Jan. 2023 But the stark reality is that the Brotherhood is at a turning point: The movement either will have to reinvent itself or face the prospect of gradually fading into irrelevance. Ioana Emy Matesan, The Conversation, 16 Dec. 2022 Some creators said their connections to their followers seemed more disposable and easily replaced than on other sites, leaving them feeling always one swipe away from irrelevance. Drew Harwell And Taylor Lorenz, Anchorage Daily News, 23 Oct. 2022 Some creators said their connections to their followers seemed more disposable and easily replaced than on other sites, leaving them feeling always one swipe away from irrelevance. Taylor Lorenz, Washington Post, 21 Oct. 2022 Russia’s increasing economic irrelevance on the global stage will be exacerbated by a sustained drop in oil prices. Joshua Cohen, Forbes, 1 Jan. 2023 The movie should hit harder because a prurient party-fest with dark undertones of creeping irrelevance and impermanence seems ready-made to thrill us, if not move us. K. Austin Collins, Rolling Stone, 23 Dec. 2022 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'irrelevance.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Word History

First Known Use

1843, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of irrelevance was in 1843

Dictionary Entries Near irrelevance

Cite this Entry

“Irrelevance.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/irrelevance. Accessed 24 Mar. 2023.

Legal Definition

irrelevance

noun
ir·​rel·​e·​vance ir-ˈre-lə-vəns How to pronounce irrelevance (audio)
1
: the quality or state of being irrelevant
2
: something that is irrelevant

More from Merriam-Webster on irrelevance

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