extraneous

/ɪkˈstreɪniəs/
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Added from outside or not relevant to the matter at hand, with a technical use for answers produced by a calculation that fail the original problem.

Examples

  • Please remove any extraneous details before submitting the report.
  • The domain restriction made the negative value extraneous.
  • The root was extraneous because it made the denominator zero.
  • The equation produced one valid answer and one extraneous answer.
  • Always substitute the answer back to catch extraneous roots.

Similar words

nonessential
unrelated
peripheral
external
spurious
superfluous
irrelevant
false
inadmissible
invalid

Meanings

Outside the main matter

adjective
everyday
formal
Not directly connected to what matters, or added from outside when it does not belong.

Examples

  • The editor cut the extraneous paragraph from the article.
  • Please remove any extraneous details before submitting the report.
  • The judge ruled that the comment was extraneous to the case.
  • Background music added extraneous noise to the recording.
  • The experiment controlled several extraneous variables.
  • Her notes were clear because they left out extraneous facts.

Similar words

Invalid after solving

adjective
mathematics
technical
Found during a calculation but not true for the original equation or condition.

Examples

  • Squaring both sides introduced an extraneous solution.
  • The root was extraneous because it made the denominator zero.
  • Always substitute the answer back to catch extraneous roots.
  • The equation produced one valid answer and one extraneous answer.
  • The domain restriction made the negative value extraneous.
  • Checking the original equation removed the extraneous solution.

Similar words

Etymology

From Latin extrāneus, meaning external, strange, or from without, from extra, meaning outside. It is related historically to strange.

FAQ

What does extraneous mean?

Extraneous means outside the main matter, not directly relevant, or not needed for the purpose at hand.

Is extraneous the same as extra?

No. Extra can simply mean additional, while extraneous usually means additional in a way that is irrelevant or out of place.

What is an extraneous solution?

An extraneous solution is an answer produced during solving that does not satisfy the original equation or condition.

What is an extraneous variable?

An extraneous variable is a factor outside the main question of a study that can still influence the result.

Can extraneous describe people?

It normally describes things, information, factors, or answers. A person can be called extraneous only when the point is that they are irrelevant to a situation.

Is extraneous formal?

Yes. Extraneous is more formal than words like unnecessary or unrelated.

What is the opposite of extraneous?

Common opposites are relevant, pertinent, essential, and intrinsic.

Where does extraneous come from?

It comes from Latin extrāneus, meaning external or from without.

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