relevant

[rel-uh-vuhnt]

adjective

1. bearing upon or connected with the matter in hand; pertinent.

   a relevant remark.

   Synonyms: fitting, suitable, appropriate, apposite, germane, applicable

relevant

/ ˈrɛlɪvənt /

adjective

1. having direct bearing on the matter in hand; pertinent

2. linguistics another word for distinctive

Pronunciation Note

See irrelevant.

Other Word Forms

• relevance noun
• relevancy noun
• relevantly adverb
• nonrelevant adjective
• unrelevant adjective
• unrelevantly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of relevant¹

First recorded in 1550–60; from Medieval Latin relevant-, stem of relevāns, special use of Latin present participle of relevāre “to raise, lift up”; relieve ( def. ), -ant ( def. )

Word History and Origins

Origin of relevant¹

C16: from Medieval Latin relevans , from Latin relevāre to lighten, from _re- + levāre to raise, _relieve

Synonym Study

See apt.

Example Sentences

That makes it simultaneously relevant to this moment in our culture and politics, as well as a fantasy.

From Salon

In the UK catapults are not illegal to own or carry in public with the government saying it is keeping all relevant legislation under review.

From BBC

He called Abbey’s novel “relevant as ever,” both a love letter to America and a sharp meditation on the morality of violence — especially when aimed at the systems and machinery of power.

From Los Angeles Times

He said the government's evidence in the case was "based on the previous government's policy that was relevant at the time that the alleged offences took place between 2021 and 2023".

From BBC

The relevant joint service publication confirms that "payment of the allowance is limited to those areas where teaching in the state sector is on a bilingual or non-English basis".

From BBC

Related Words

• admissible 
• applicable 
• compatible 
• consistent 
• germane 
• important 
• pertinent 
• proper 
• related 
• significant 
• suitable 
• suited