irrelevant

adjective

ir·​rel·​e·​vant i-ˈre-lə-vənt 

: not relevant : inapplicable

that statement is irrelevant to your argument

irrelevantly adverb

Synonyms of irrelevant

• meaningless
• immaterial
• inapplicable
• extraneous
• useless
• inappropriate
• impertinent
• beside the point
• inapposite
• irrelative

Examples of irrelevant in a Sentence

His comment is completely irrelevant.

irrelevant questions that merely disrupted the classroom lesson

Recent Examples on the Web

It was treated as irrelevant, rather than as a co-equal branch entrusted with the gravest decision a republic can make. —Jon Duffy, Mercury News, 6 Jan. 2026

The answers to these questions and more are irrelevant. —Sam Reed, Glamour, 6 Jan. 2026

Because the anti-Trump side defends the rule of law, it can be drawn into legalistic objections that sound pettifogging and irrelevant. —David Frum, The Atlantic, 3 Jan. 2026

For the left brain, anything outside its purview is irrelevant, wrong, or invisible. —Christian Wiman, Harpers Magazine, 30 Dec. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1786, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for irrelevant

• relevant

Kids Definition

irrelevant

adjective

ir·​rel·​e·​vant (ˈ)ir-ˈ(r)el-ə-vənt 

: not relevant : not applicable or pertinent

the evidence presented was judged irrelevant to the case

irrelevance

-vən(t)s

noun

or irrelevancy

-vən-sē

irrelevantly adverb

Legal Definition

irrelevant

adjective

ir·​rel·​e·​vant ir-ˈre-lə-vənt 

: not relevant : not applicable or pertinent

irrelevant allegations

irrelevant evidence

compare immaterial

irrelevantly adverb