What does "Extraneous" mean in terms of relevance?

The term "extraneous" refers to something that is not pertinent or relevant to the matter at hand. In contexts where information, details, or elements are being assessed for their relevance, something classified as extraneous is deemed unnecessary and not contributing to the primary purpose or topic. For instance, when writing an essay, any data or arguments that do not align with the central thesis can be considered extraneous; they might distract from the main point rather than support it. This understanding helps clarify why "not pertinent or relevant" is the correct interpretation of "extraneous."

In contrast, the other choices suggest concepts that are related, essential, or excessive, none of which align with the definition of being irrelevant. The choice highlighting ''excessive'' may imply abundance but does not capture the essence of lack of relevance, and "essential" directly contradicts the meaning of being extraneous, which entails a lack of necessity.