redundancy
Say it: rih-DUN-dun-see /rɪˈdʌnd(ə)nsi/ · noun
What “redundancy” means
Extra working parts that take over if another fails.
More precisely: In engineering, duplicate parts built in as backups so one failure doesn't stop the whole system.
When to use it
In engineering or planning, when explaining backups that keep a system working after a component fails.
It can also mean
In British employment talk, redundancy means losing a job because the role is no longer needed.
Similar words
backup, duplication, failover
Quick check
A hospital's second power supply takes over when the first fails, keeping equipment running. What does this backup provide?
efficiency or redundancy?
Show the answer
redundancy
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