redundant
UK: rɪˈdʌndənt | US: rɪˈdʌndənt
adj. exceeding what is necessary or normal; superfluous
adj. (of information) repeated or added as a backup
adj. (of a component or system) duplicated to improve reliability
redundant = re<again> + und<wave/overflow> + ant<adjective suffix>
- re: Latin prefix meaning "again" or "back."
- und: From Latin unda (wave), suggesting overflow or excess.
- ant: Suffix forming adjectives, indicating a state or quality.
Etymology Origin:
The word redundant traces back to Latin redundare ("to overflow"), combining re- (again) and unda (wave). It originally described liquids overflowing or waves surging back, later metaphorically extended to mean "excessive" or "unnecessary repetition." The modern sense reflects this logic: something redundant "overflows" beyond necessity, whether in language, systems, or components.
The report contained redundant information, repeating the same data in multiple sections.
The engineer designed a redundant power supply to ensure the server never fails.
His speech felt redundant after he restated his main point three times.
Many jobs were cut because the company eliminated redundant roles.
The backup system is redundant but crucial for emergency scenarios.