Etymologically
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irrelevant

This is the current revision of this entry, as edited by bogdan on 17 October 2026 at 05:44. This address is a permanent link to this version.
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Pronunciation

  • IPA: /ɪˈrel.ə.vənt/[1]

Etymology

It is formed from ir-, the assimilated form of in-, not (see in-), and relevant.[2][3][4]

Earliest recorded meaning

Not relevant or pertinent: the 1680s in Etymonline, the 16th century in Hoad,[2][3] 1786 in the OED and Merriam-Webster.[5][4]

Semantic evolution

Irrelevancy is recorded from the 16th century in Hoad,[3] and irrelevantly from 1818.[5] Fowler observed that irrelevant and relieving are the same word: what is irrelevant does not relieve or help with the problem in hand.[2]

Timeline

  • 1680s – irrelevant.[2]
  • 1786 – first OED quotation.[5]
  • 1818 – irrelevantly.[5]

Modern meaning

Adjective

  1. Not connected with or relevant to the matter in hand; not important.

Word family

  • irrelevantly
  • irrelevancy
  • irrelevance

References

  1. ^ Jones, Daniel (2011), Cambridge English Pronouncing Dictionary, 18th ed., ed. Peter Roach, Jane Setter and John Esling, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press
  2. ^ a b c d Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  3. ^ a b c Hoad, T. F., ed. (1986), The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  4. ^ a b Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary (2024), online ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
  5. ^ a b c d Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press