superfluous

C2 Topic:Abstract Ideas

US /suˈpɝflu.əs/ UK /suːˈpɜːflu.əs/ See IPA manual

Freq #27027

Meanings

1

adj
More than is needed; unnecessary.

With a full rain jacket on, carrying an umbrella seemed superfluous.
2

adj
Serving no useful purpose.

The editor cut every superfluous word from the article.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 adj · more than is needed;... unnecessary redundant extra

2 adj · serving no useful purpose. needless

Etymology

From Middle English superfluous, from Latin superfluus (“superfluous”), from superfluō (“overflow”), from super (“above, more than, over”) + fluō (“flow”). Compare mellifluous and fluid, also from Latin. Literally corresponds to overflow, which is from Germanic, rather than Latin.

superfluous Middle English superfluus Latin

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Topics

Abstract Ideas Word Formation & Derivatives

External links

# superfluous

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2
**Part of speech:** adj
**IPA (US):** /suˈpɝflu.əs/
**IPA (UK):** /suːˈpɜːflu.əs/
**Frequency rank:** 27027

## Meanings
1. More than is needed; unnecessary.
2. Serving no useful purpose.

## Examples
- With a full rain jacket on, carrying an umbrella seemed superfluous.
- The editor cut every superfluous word from the article.

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: superfluous
- Root: superfluus

## Etymology
From Middle English superfluous, from Latin superfluus (“superfluous”), from superfluō (“overflow”), from super (“above, more than, over”) + fluō (“flow”). Compare mellifluous and fluid, also from Latin. Literally corresponds to overflow, which is from Germanic, rather than Latin.

## AI Etymology
Superfluous is from Middle English superfluous, from Latin superfluus (“superfluous”), from superfluō (“overflow”), from super (“above, more than, over”) + fluō (“flow”). Compare mellifluous and fluid, also from Latin. Literally corresponds to overflow, which is from Germanic, rather than Latin. The analysis is mainly morphological: the modern adjectival form is built from the named base and affix. Important recorded forms include superfluous (Middle English) and superfluus (Latin). Current senses include more than is needed; unnecessary and serving no useful purpose.

## Topics
- Abstract Ideas
- Word Formation & Derivatives

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