hear it again

1 : not forming a necessary part
2 : irrelevant

Example sentence:
To make this a better essay, cut out all the extraneous information on the author's birthplace and early childhood and focus instead on the book you are discussing.

Etymology:
"Extraneous," "extrinsic," and "foreign" mean outside of something's essential character or nature. "Extraneous" is used of something that is not an essential part of something else. ("They gave us all sorts of extraneous information about the city when we asked for directions.") "Extrinsic" also refers to something that is distinct from or not derived from the essence of something ("The sentimental value of that blanket is extrinsic to its worth in money.") "Foreign" applies to something that is so different that it can't ever be a part of something else ("The idea of flying through outer space is foreign to me.")