1
a
: exceeding what is necessary or normal : superfluous
b
: characterized by or containing an excess
specifically : using more words than necessary
c
: characterized by similarity or repetition
a group of particularly redundant brick buildings
d
chiefly British : no longer needed for a job and hence laid off
2
3
: serving as a duplicate for preventing failure of an entire system (such as a spacecraft) upon failure of a single component
redundantly adverb

Examples of redundant in a Sentence

The drone had originally been designed to go places the Blackbird could not, but it had become redundant on discovery of the fact that there was nowhere the SR-71 could not go in safety … Tom Clancy, The Cardinal of the Kremlin, 1989
Undoubtedly in ninety-nine cases out of a hundred a witness to an occurrence is someone who has seen it. Therefore, some editors have said, eyewitness is a redundant word and it should be consigned to the dustbin. Theodore M. Bernstein, Mrs. Thistlebottom's Hobgoblins, 1971
There they sat, grounded upon the ground, silent, uncomplaining, with bowed heads, a pathetic sight. And by hideous contrast, a redundant orator was making a speech to another gathering not thirty steps away … Mark Twain, A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court, 1889
He edited the paper and removed any redundant information or statements.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Common inefficiencies include redundant data copies and inspections of the same data. Alexander Krizhanovsky, Forbes.com, 23 June 2025 Leddy is still a smooth skater with capable puck-moving chops, but that skill set is redundant since the arrival of Fowler and Broberg. Harman Dayal, New York Times, 21 June 2025 In the administration's earliest days, the president sided with longshoremen against efforts to make union members redundant via automation. Dan Perry, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 June 2025 The final item, Memory Mechanic, also seems redundant, with modern computers having so much memory. PC Magazine, 17 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for redundant

Word History

Etymology

Latin redundant-, redundans, present participle of redundare to overflow — more at redound

First Known Use

1594, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of redundant was in 1594

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Redundant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/redundant. Accessed 29 Jun. 2025.

Kids Definition

redundant

adjective
1
: more than what is necessary or normal
2
: using or having more words than necessary : repetitious
redundantly adverb

Medical Definition

redundant

adjective
: characterized by or containing an excess or superfluous amount
redundant pharyngeal tissue

More from Merriam-Webster on redundant

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