superfluous
adjective
Did you know?
If, say, you were to go chasing waterfalls in addition to the rivers and the lakes that you’re used to, such a pursuit would be superfluous. In other words, you would be exceeding what is necessary to satisfy your need for water-based enjoyment and recreation. “You’ve already got rivers and lakes,” your friends might advise with a bit of TLC, “just stick to them!” “Extra water” is also key to understanding the history of the word superfluous, which entered Middle English from the Latin adjective superfluus, meaning literally “running over.” Superfluus, in turn, comes from the verb superfluere (“to overflow”), which combines the prefix super- (meaning “over”) and fluere, “to flow.” In addition to influencing superfluous, fluere also flowed into the English words affluent, influence, and fluid, among others.
Examples of superfluous in a Sentence
Louis Menand, New Yorker, 9 & 16 June 2008
Oddly, despite the preponderance of superfluous words, the book has no glossary, which is a must for an introductory audience.
—Dorothy Merritts, Eos, 3 Oct. 2000
Twenty years ago, baby boomers were written about as if every one of them had as a life goal making enough money to accumulate the same superfluous material objects that everyone else had.
—Calvin Trillin, Time, 6 Sept. 1999
cleared off all the superfluous stuff on his desk to make room for the new computer
Brett F. Braley-Palko, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2025
The most superfluous story line in the present comes courtesy of Tai and Van.
—Erin Qualey, Vulture, 21 Feb. 2025
The result is that vital activities are being hastily cut alongside superfluous ones.
—Dan Perry, Newsweek, 19 Feb. 2025
With his trademark narrative economy, the writer-director elides any trace of superfluous exposition, briskly establishing what’s at stake for both of his main characters and then continually turning the screws to up those stakes.
—David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 15 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for superfluous
Cite this Entry
“Superfluous.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/superfluous. Accessed 6 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
superfluous
adjective
Middle English superfluous "more than is needed," from Latin superfluus, literally, "running over," from superfluere "to overflow," from super- "over, in addition," and fluere "to flow" — related to fluid
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