superfluous

[ soo-pur-floo-uhs ]
See synonyms for superfluous on Thesaurus.com
adjective
  1. being more than is sufficient or required; excessive.

  2. unnecessary or needless.

  1. Obsolete. possessing or spending more than enough or necessary; extravagant.

Origin of superfluous

1
First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English, from Latin superfluus, from super- super- + flu- (stem of fluere “to flow”) + -us -ous

Other words for superfluous

Other words from superfluous

  • su·per·flu·ous·ly, adverb
  • su·per·flu·ous·ness, noun
  • un·su·per·flu·ous, adjective
  • un·su·per·flu·ous·ly, adverb
  • un·su·per·flu·ous·ness, noun

Words Nearby superfluous

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How to use superfluous in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for superfluous

superfluous

/ (suːˈpɜːflʊəs) /


adjective
  1. exceeding what is sufficient or required

  2. not necessary or relevant; uncalled-for

  1. obsolete extravagant in expenditure or oversupplied with possessions

Origin of superfluous

1
C15: from Latin superfluus overflowing, from super- + fluere to flow

Derived forms of superfluous

  • superfluously, adverb
  • superfluousness, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012