🇬🇧🇨🇳 superfluous - 多余 : English Lesson

Meaning of "superfluous" ("多余"), detailed definition, and a short video lesson below.

Superfluous describes something that is unnecessary because there’s already enough of it. If you have ten spoons but only need one, the other nine are superfluous.

Watch and listen to this English flashcard to understand the word in more detail, with an easy example sentence.

Wearing three hats at the same time felt a little superfluous, but I wanted options.

Having six alarms for school was superfluous… but I still slept through all of them.

Bringing a suitcase full of snacks to a two-hour movie might have been superfluous, but I had no regrets.

The teacher’s superfluous rule against bringing llamas to class made me suspicious.

Putting twelve scoops of ice cream in my cone was superfluous—and delicious.

Anna packed her bag for a short trip, stuffing socks, three hats, a candle, and a toy. Each superfluous item bulged the zipper. She kissed a superfluous hat, then dropped it. A superfluous candle slipped beneath the bed; she left a superfluous toy by the door. With superfluous things gone, she closed the bag and laughed.

This word is at the C2 level, which means it represents the highest mastery of English. It’s often used in specialized or highly formal contexts and helps you communicate with precision and subtlety, much like a native speaker.

Expanding your English vocabulary is one of the best ways to improve your pronunciation, spelling, and confidence in English. Watch the video above to memorize the word, understand its meaning, and see example sentences in action. Discover related words to grow your vocabulary naturally. Add words to your playlist for stress-free, effective learning—anytime, anywhere! Watch, learn, repeat.