extraneous meaning and definition

EXTRANEOUS adjective

Definition of extraneous (adjective)

1. not pertinent to the matter under consideration
   • "an issue extraneous to the debate"; "the price was immaterial"; "mentioned several impertinent facts before finally coming to the point"
   • synonyms: immaterial, impertinent, orthogonal
2. not essential
   • "the ballet struck me as extraneous and somewhat out of keeping with the rest of the play"
3. not belonging to that in which it is contained; introduced from an outside source
   • "water free of extraneous matter"; "foreign particles in milk"
   • synonyms: foreign
4. coming from the outside
   • "extraneous light in the camera spoiled the photograph"; "relying upon an extraneous income"; "disdaining outside pressure groups"
   • synonyms: external, outside