Definition Definition

extraneous - Meaning and Examples

Meaning of 'extraneous' (Webster Dictionary)

1 . Extraneous [ a.]
- Not belonging to, or dependent upon, a thing; without or beyond a thing; not essential or intrinsic; foreign; as, to separate gold from extraneous matter.

Meaning of 'extraneous' (Princeton's WordNet)

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