make redundant

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "make redundant" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used in a business context to indicate that a position or role is no longer necessary, often due to organizational changes or downsizing. Example: "Due to budget cuts, the company had to make several positions redundant, including the marketing manager."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

28 human-written examples

Reality Length of employment used to be one of the most common ways of objectively determining who to make redundant.

The Guardian - Money

The National Union of Journalists reports criticisms by Taylor, Platt and O'Leary following Desmond's decision to make redundant three of the nine remaining Express sports reporters.

The Guardian

The man whom Carter is meant to make redundant is the 51-year-old Dan Foreman, a ruggedly appealing adult who brings out the best in everyone.

The New York Times

None of this is remotely enough, or a substitute for political action which no bill of rights can, or should, make redundant.

The Guardian - Opinion

If successful, the venture would outstrip and to some extent make redundant the Government's $3 billion program to sequence the human genome by 2005.

The New York Times

Eventually, the one million barrels-per-day spur could make redundant the Druzhba (friendship) pipeline that runs through Belarus and central Europe.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

32 human-written examples

Made redundant.

The New York Times

I was made redundant.

The Guardian

Get made redundant".

The Guardian - Film

My father was made redundant.

The Guardian

Librarians are being made redundant.

The Guardian - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider the context: While "make redundant" is technically correct, phrases like "lay off" or "downsize" might be more readily understood in certain regions or industries. Adapt your language to suit your audience.

Common error

Avoid using "make redundant" as a euphemism for firing someone due to poor performance. Redundancy should stem from a genuine need to eliminate a role, not to mask disciplinary action. If performance is the issue, address it directly.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "make redundant" functions as a verb phrase, indicating the action of terminating someone's employment because their position is no longer necessary. Ludwig AI validates this usage through numerous examples.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

46%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

14%

Less common in

Academia

3%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "make redundant" is a common way to describe the act of eliminating a job position, usually due to organizational changes or economic factors. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically correct and widely used, particularly in news and business contexts. While alternatives like "lay off" or "downsize" exist, "make redundant" specifically highlights that the role itself is no longer needed. It's important to use this phrase accurately and transparently, distinguishing it from performance-related dismissals.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

render unnecessary

This alternative emphasizes that something becomes needless due to another factor.

eliminate the need for

This alternative focuses on removing the necessity of something, rather than directly dismissing people or items.

lay off staff

Lay off focus on the termination of a worker due to economic conditions.

abolish the position

This alternative specifically targets the elimination of a job or role.

terminate employment

More formal way of describing the cessation of the employment.

cut jobs

A more direct way to say to eliminate positions in a company.

downsize the workforce

This implies a reduction in the number of employees, which can involve making positions redundant.

streamline operations

This alternative focuses on the process improvement aspect that might lead to redundancies.

declare obsolete

This alternative is suited when referring to products or processes that are no longer useful.

remove from payroll

Focuses on the practical aspect of removing someone from the salary system.

FAQs

How can I use "make redundant" in a sentence?

You can use "make redundant" to indicate that a job or position is no longer necessary, for example, "The company had to "make redundant" several positions due to restructuring."

What are some alternatives to "make redundant"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "lay off", "downsize", or "eliminate the position" instead of "make redundant".

Is it correct to say "being made redundant"?

Yes, "being made redundant" is grammatically correct and commonly used. It indicates that someone is in the process of having their job terminated due to redundancy.

What's the difference between "make redundant" and "lay off"?

"Make redundant" typically implies that a position is no longer needed within a company. "Lay off" often suggests a temporary or indefinite suspension of employment, frequently due to economic downturns or restructuring. While the terms are often used interchangeably, their specific connotations can differ.