superfluous

Definitions

super- (over) + flu (flow) + -ous = 'flowing over the top.' Picture a glass filled past the brim: whatever spills over was never needed. That overflow is the exact image of 'unnecessary, more than enough.' Cutting superfluous words means pouring off what overflowed.

Common Collocations

• 1.superfluous detail多余的细节
• 2.render superfluous使……变得多余
• 3.superfluous information冗余信息
• 4.seem superfluous显得多余

Example Sentences

• 1.

  The report was clear, so any further explanation was superfluous.

• 2.

  She trimmed every superfluous word from the essay.

Easily Confused

superfluous vs redundant — both mean unnecessary, but superfluous is 'more than needed' (extra, surplus), while redundant is 'unnecessary because already covered' (a redundant sentence repeats what was said). Surplus → superfluous; repetition → redundant.