redundant
unnecessary; more than is needed
Not needed because there is already enough of something, so it is extra and useless.
[something] is redundant
- The third paragraph is redundant and can be deleted.
- These extra checks are redundant because the system already verifies your identity twice.
- Having two printers in such a small office feels redundant.
- Much of the report is redundant, repeating the same data in different ways.
- Adding your full address is redundant, since it already appears at the top of the letter.
- This sentence is redundant, so we can remove it.
- Two locks on the same small box are redundant.
- The extra line of code is redundant and does nothing.
- Repeating the same point three times is redundant.
- The app asks a redundant question that it already knows the answer to.
no longer employed; job removed
(Mainly UK) Having lost your job because the company does not need that job anymore, not because you did something wrong.
[someone] is made redundant
- After the merger, fifty employees were made redundant.
- She was made redundant when the factory moved production overseas.
- Several middle-management positions have become redundant due to restructuring.
- He took a training course after being made redundant last year.
- The company announced that no one in the sales team would be made redundant.
- Her job ended and she was made redundant.
- Many workers were made redundant when the shop closed.
- He is afraid he will be made redundant next year.
- After being made redundant, she started her own business.
- The company lost money, so ten people became redundant.
duplicated for backup and reliability
In technical systems, copied or doubled so that if one part stops working, another part can do the job.
[system/component] is redundant
- The data center uses redundant servers to ensure the website stays online.
- The aircraft has redundant control systems for safety.
- A redundant power supply keeps the router running during an outage.
- Engineers designed a redundant network connection to prevent downtime.
- Critical databases are stored on redundant storage arrays.
- The company uses redundant servers, so the website does not go down.
- The plane has redundant systems to make it safer.
- We need a redundant power supply for this machine.
- Our files are kept on redundant drives in case one drive fails.
- The hospital’s computers run on a redundant network.
adding no new information (linguistics)
In language or information, giving information that is already very clear from other parts, so it does not help the listener or reader know more.
[linguistic element] is redundant
- In this language, plural agreement on both the noun and the verb is considered redundant.
- The subject pronoun is redundant here because the verb ending already shows the person.
- From an information-theoretic perspective, the extra marker is redundant.
- In many languages, gender on adjectives is redundant because gender is already marked on the noun.
- The final particle is phonologically present but functionally redundant.
- In this sentence, the word "that" is redundant.
- The plural ending is redundant because the word "two" already shows plural.
- Here the subject is clear, so the subject word is redundant.
- Some sounds in words are redundant and do not change the meaning.
- The teacher said the extra marker is redundant in this language.
- Base: redundant
be made redundant
1lose job because role removed
(Mainly UK) To lose your job because your employer does not need that job anymore, not because you did something wrong.
- I was made redundant last year when the office moved abroad.
- She’s worried she might be made redundant after the reorganization.
- Over a hundred workers were made redundant during the recession.
make someone redundant
1dismiss because job no longer exists
(Mainly UK) To stop someone’s job and ask them to leave the company because the company does not need that job anymore.
- The company plans to make thirty people redundant next month.
- They made him redundant after the department was closed.
- Several managers were made redundant when the two firms merged.
render something redundant
1make something unnecessary
To make something no longer needed, usually because something better or more modern can do the same job.
- Streaming services have rendered DVDs largely redundant.
- Online banking has rendered many local branches redundant.
- Automation may render some manual tasks redundant.