superfluous material

[soo-PER-floo-us muh-TEER-ee-ul]
noun phrasepl: superfluous materials
material supérfluo
1. Excess or unnecessary material that is not required for a specific purpose; material that goes beyond what is needed
The editor removed all superfluous material from the manuscript to make it more concise.
O editor removeu todo o material supérfluo do manuscrito para torná-lo mais conciso.
2. Extra or redundant content in a text, document, or project that does not contribute to the main objective
In academic writing, it is important to eliminate superfluous material that distracts from your argument.
Na escrita acadêmica, é importante eliminar material supérfluo que distrai do seu argumento.
3. In manufacturing or construction, leftover or excess materials that are not needed for completion of the product
The contractor disposed of the superfluous material after completing the building project.
O contratante descartou o material supérfluo após concluir o projeto de construção.
In both Brazilian and American professional contexts, the ability to identify and eliminate superfluous material is highly valued in writing, manufacturing, and project management. This reflects a cultural preference for efficiency and clarity. In academic and business settings, writers are encouraged to 'cut the fluff' and maintain focus on core messages.
NYC Slang
fluff, filler, dead weight
Synonyms / Sinônimos
excess materialredundant materialunnecessary materialwaste materialextraneous material
Antonyms / Antônimos
essential materialnecessary materialrequired materialvital material

Regional Variations

General Brazilian Portuguese
material supérfluo
Standard usage in Brazil for excess or unnecessary material in any context
São Paulo
material desnecessário
Common alternative emphasizing the lack of necessity
Rio de Janeiro
material sobra
Colloquial term focusing on leftover or surplus material
Portugal
material supérfluo
Same as Brazilian Portuguese; formal and standard usage

Related Words

superfluousexcessredundancywastetrimeditingconciseness

Related Idioms & Phrases

trim the fat
cut to the chase
get rid of the clutter
leave on the cutting room floor
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