irrelevant English · revision 10770

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=1680s|origins=en relevant}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ɪˈrel.ə.vənt/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is formed from ir-, the assimilated form of in-, not (see [[in-]]), and [[relevant]].^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986)^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Not relevant or pertinent: the 1680s in Etymonline, the 16th century in Hoad,^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) 1786 in the OED and Merriam-Webster.^(OED 1989)^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ ''Irrelevancy'' is recorded from the 16th century in Hoad,^(Hoad 1986) and ''irrelevantly'' from 1818.^(OED 1989) Fowler observed that irrelevant and relieving are the same word: what is irrelevant does not relieve or help with the problem in hand.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1680s – irrelevant.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1786 – first OED quotation.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1818 – irrelevantly.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Not connected with or [[relevant]] to the matter in hand; not important.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[irrelevantly]]

+ * [[irrelevancy]]

+ * [[irrelevance]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[relevant]]

+ * [[relieve]]

+ * [[relevance]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}