redundant

Meanings

1. 1adjectivecomparable

   Not needed because something else already does the same job or says the same thing.

   Grammar: Used before a noun (a redundant step) or after a verb (that word is redundant).

   Patterns

   • redundant to something
   • redundant in something

   The second sentence is redundant because the first already says it.

   Having two backup drives may seem redundant, but it protects against failure.

   Once the new software arrived, the old forms became redundant.

2. 2adjectiveafter a verbBritish

   Without a job because the employer no longer needs your position.

   Grammar: Often used with be, become or make: he was made redundant. In American English, laid off is more usual.

   Patterns

   • be made redundant
   • become redundant
   • declare someone redundant

   Two hundred workers were made redundant when the factory closed.

   She was made redundant at fifty and retrained as a nurse.

   My job became redundant after the two offices merged.

3. 3adjectivebefore a nountechnical

   Built into a system as a spare so that it can take over if the main part fails.

   Grammar: Common in engineering: a redundant power supply.

   Patterns

   • redundant system
   • redundant backup

   The airplane has redundant hydraulic systems for safety.

   The data center uses redundant power supplies.

   A redundant link kept the network running when the cable broke.

Common combinations

made redundant

He was made redundant after twelve years with the company.

become redundant

Typewriters became redundant once computers spread.

render something redundant

The new law rendered the old rules redundant.

redundant information

Please delete the redundant information from the form.

redundant system

A redundant system keeps the hospital's lights on.

Synonyms and how they differ

superfluous

Superfluous is more formal and stresses that something is more than enough, while redundant stresses that it repeats something already covered.

unnecessary

Unnecessary is the plain everyday word; redundant adds the idea that another thing already does the job.

surplus

Surplus describes extra amount left over, usually of goods or money, and is not used about repeated words.

laid off

Laid off describes a worker losing a job and is the usual American choice, whereas redundant in the job sense is mainly British.

Opposites

Word family

redundancy noun

the state of being unneeded, or a job loss

redundantly adverb

in an unneeded, repeated way

redundancies noun

plural: job losses in a company

Commonly confused: redundant or reluctant?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “redundant”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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