redundancy

noun

ri-ˈdən-dən(t)-sē How to pronounce redundancy (audio)
Definition of redundancynext
1
as in repetition
the use of too many words to express an idea even though the phrase "free gift" is a redundancy, many retailers still use it to assure customers that an item is really free

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in surplus
the state or an instance of going beyond what is usual, proper, or needed there's a redundancy of high-priced restaurants in the area

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in dismissal
chiefly British the termination of the employment of an employee or a work force often temporarily several dozen employees at the London office were lost to redundancy

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of redundancy Rogers agreed that building redundancy into the supply chain required spending more. — Alexandra Harrell, Footwear News, 6 Oct. 2026 And in September, it was reported Frasers made redundancies across the business, notably among staff from the Bristol and Leeds stores that are becoming Flannels. — Lucy Maguire, Vogue, 5 Oct. 2026 Given today’s risks, frontier labs need to run like nuclear power plants or busy airports, with layers of redundancy and careful, time-consuming planning, so that the occasional and inevitable human error does not open a door to disaster. — Terrence O'Brien, The Verge, 3 Oct. 2026 In addition, each year between April and October crews are testing generators, redundancy systems and other equipment to prepare for the worst, Shelton said. — Sandra McDonald, Los Angeles Times, 2 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for redundancy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for redundancy
  1. repetition
  2. surplus
  3. dismissal
  4. repetitiveness
  5. excess
  6. firing
  7. verbosity
  8. abundance
Noun
  • None of these incidents necessarily costs an account, but repetition can.
    — Adam Povlitz, Forbes.com, 13 Oct. 2026
  • With Dru Smith sidelined by a calf strain sustained during training camp, Larsson had wound up taking repetitions at point guard, including during that preseason-opening victory over the Raptors.
    — Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of repetition
Noun
  • Any business can be people-owned and operated, with surplus revenue going back to the customers and employees instead of to shareholders.
    — Letters to the Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 14 Oct. 2026
  • Menswear publications also began spotlighting military surplus liners as standalone jackets rather than removable insulation, and the style eventually expanded into designer collections and shopping guides.
    — Ashley Lynch, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of surplus
Noun
  • His lawyers, making the motion for dismissal, argued that Kuznietsov was still an active duty soldier and as such was obligated by Ukrainian law not to speak for reasons of secrecy linked to national security.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Even if Chili’s dismissal is unrelated, an ex-employee is a good place to start.
    — Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of dismissal
Noun
  • The repetitiveness of the plot is not helped by the many montages writer-director Yandy Laurens uses as shortcuts, instead of writing scenes that show how the central relationship is developing.
    — Murtada Elfadl, Variety, 15 Dec. 2025
Definition of repetitiveness
Noun
  • Trump is right to want to tame inequality, scale back some of the excesses of globalization, and secure supply chains of critical goods.
    — Charles Kupchan, Foreign Affairs, 19 Oct. 2026
  • In the 40 years since, every facet of Spacemen 3’s story has been turned over and generously embellished, resulting in an excess of grandeur and foresight projected onto the duo at the heart of it.
    — Gabriel Szatan, Pitchfork, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of excess
Noun
  • Things certainly aren’t going well when your defensive coordinator’s name is emblazoned across bedsheets hanging from your school’s fraternity windows, calling for his firing.
    — Noah White, Miami Herald, 18 Oct. 2026
  • Fear and loathing are running high as Hollywood processes Thursday’s shock firing of Bela Bajaria from her post as Netflix chief content officer.
    — Matt Donnelly, Variety, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of firing
Noun
  • His verbosity has become a point of contention.
    — R. Eric Thomas, Chicago Tribune, 29 June 2026
  • Clarity In the AI era, verbosity is free and clarity is expensive.
    — Ankur Shah, Forbes.com, 18 June 2026
Definition of verbosity
Noun
  • But these mergers are far too rare to explain the abundance of heavier elements in the universe.
    — Robin George Andrews, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026
  • December Come to Sicily for the citrus harvest, when menus abound with an abundance of local varieties.
    — Mark Ellwood, Robb Report, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of abundance

Browse Nearby Words

redundancies
redundancy
redundant
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Redundancy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/redundancy. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on redundancy

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about redundancy

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of jilt

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Can' vs. 'May'

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Did 'orange' the fruit or the color come first?

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
artwork of illustrated limes with the text limes and smile with an arrow connecting the two words
Quiz: Spot the Anagram! Scramble these words to find new words with the e...
See All