superfluous

C2 Topic:Describing Qualities

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

Simplified etymology

Superfluous entered English in the late Middle Ages and is based on Latin fluere, “to flow,” with the sense “overflowing.”

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

Describing Qualities 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
- Describing Qualities
- Word Formation & Derivatives

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