redundant
/rɪˈdʌndənt/ (bre, ipa) · /rɪˈdʌndənt/ (ame, ipa) · /ri-ˈdən-dənt/ (ame, mw)
redundant — adjective
- redundantpositive
- more redundantcomparative
- most redundantsuperlative
1. not needed because something else already does the same job — for example, sayin
not needed because something else already does the same job — for example, saying "free gift" is redundant since a gift is always free, or a computer button that does the same thing as another one is redundant.
Christopher found the second security check redundant since passengers had already been screened at the entrance.
redundant + since (reason clause)
Noor cut three redundant steps from the assembly line after watching workers repeat the same motions.
Tara deleted several redundant slides from the presentation to keep the audience focused.
The two overlapping reports made the assistant's job feel redundant.
In many software tools, duplicate buttons are redundant and only confuse users.
- unnecessary
broader term; simply not needed for any reason
- superfluous
more formal; suggests an elegant or obvious excess
- excessive
implies an amount beyond what is reasonable, not necessarily due to duplication
文法句型
redundant + because/since (reason clause)
be/become redundant
用法筆記
Often used to describe language or text where extra words repeat the same meaning. It is a common critique in editing and writing advice.
常見錯誤
2. no longer employed by an organization because your position or type of work is n
no longer employed by an organization because your position or type of work is no longer needed — this happens when a company closes a department, automates tasks, or reduces its workforce, not because of anything you did wrong.
Caio was made redundant when the warehouse automated its packing system.
passive: be made redundant + reason (when clause)
The factory announced that thirty workers would become redundant by the end of the month.
After being made redundant, Takeshi enrolled in a retraining course for electric vehicle repair.
The union negotiated better severance pay for staff who were declared redundant.
Selim worried his role might become redundant after the company merger.
文法句型
be made redundant (most common)
become redundant
be declared redundant
用法筆記
This sense is primarily used in British and Commonwealth English. In American English, the equivalent terms are 'laid off' or 'let go.' Note that the passive construction 'was made redundant' is the standard form; saying 'I became redundant' is less common and sounds slightly unnatural to native speakers.
常見錯誤
3. containing more words than are needed to express an idea, often by restating the
containing more words than are needed to express an idea, often by restating the same meaning in a slightly different form — for example, writing "the reason is because" is redundant because "reason" already implies a cause.
The essay was marked down for being redundant, with the same argument repeated in three separate sections.
redundant writing / repetitive structure in academic context
Élise advised her students to avoid redundant phrases such as 'end result' in their academic writing.
redundant phrase + specific example (end result)
The report's redundant language made it longer but not more informative.
Indra noticed the speech was redundant, so she cut several sentences that restated the same point.
A good editor catches redundant sentences and merges them into one clear statement.
- repetitive
more general; can describe any repeated action or pattern, not just words
- verbose
using too many words, though not necessarily repeating the same idea
- wordy
informal; containing more words than needed
文法句型
redundant + noun (prose/writing/language)
be/become redundant in the sense of being repetitive
用法筆記
This sense overlaps with sense 1 (UNNECESSARY EXTRA) but is narrower: it focuses specifically on language or expression that repeats the same idea, rather than any unnecessary item. Distinguish by context — if the criticism is about repetition of ideas rather than surplus items, this sense applies.