pertain

American  

[per-tayn] / pərˈteɪn /

verb (used without object)

• pertains,
  present (3rd person singular)
• pertained,
  past participle,  past
• pertaining
  present participle

1. to have reference or relation; relate.

   documents pertaining to the lawsuit.

2. to belong or be connected as a part, adjunct, possession, or attribute.

3. to belong properly or fittingly; be appropriate.

---

pertain British  

/ pəˈteɪn /

verb

1. to have reference, relation, or relevance

   issues pertaining to women

2. to be appropriate

   the product pertains to real user needs

3. to belong (to) or be a part (of); be an adjunct, attribute, or accessory (of)

---

Other Word Forms

Inflected Forms

Participles

• pertaining
  present
• pertained
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• pertain
  simple
• pertains
  simple
• have pertained
  perfect
• has pertained
  perfect
• am pertaining
  progressive
• are pertaining
  progressive
• is pertaining
  progressive
• have been pertaining
  perfect progressive
• has been pertaining
  perfect progressive

Past

• pertained
  simple
• had pertained
  perfect
• was pertaining
  progressive
• were pertaining
  progressive
• had been pertaining
  perfect progressive

Future

• will pertain
  simple
• will have pertained
  perfect
• will be pertaining
  progressive
• will have been pertaining
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of pertain

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English pertenen, partenen, perteinen, from Middle French partein-, stem of partenir, from Latin pertinēre “to be applicable,” literally, “to hold through, reach,” equivalent to per- per- + -tinēre, combining form of tenēre “to hold”

Explanation

To pertain is to be relevant or somehow associated with something. If you're a lawyer, you try to find evidence that will pertain to the case and eliminate anything that is not connected. Behind the verb pertain lies the Latin verb pertinēre, which means "to be applicable" or "to hold through." If you think the rules of the road don't pertain to you, try explaining that to the state trooper when you get pulled over. Usage note: The word pertain often takes an s at the end, as in "That pertains to this matter," but loses it with a helper: “That doesn’t pertain to it.”

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

pertain pertains pertained pertaining

Those operations may pertain more to recovering material from the location than trying to rebuild its capabilities, experts outside government said.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 25, 2026

The proposed changes pertain to a 2023 rule designed to tamp down NOx -- shorthand for nitric oxide and nitrogen dioxide -- from truck tailpipes, beginning with model year 2027.

From Barron's ● Jul. 9, 2026

All of these estate-planning documents pertain to adults over the age of 18, so Trust & Will’s survey starts with Generation Z, whose members are now between the ages of 16 and 29.

From MarketWatch ● Apr. 14, 2026

Budget reconciliation is governed by strict rules, enforced by a strict parliamentarian, requiring that reconciliation items pertain to taxes and spending.

From Slate ● Mar. 24, 2026

“How does that pertain to the ripping down of my house, James?”

From "Chains" by Laurie Halse Anderson

Starting next month, the law will prohibit the sale of any food product that isn’t labeled with either phrase — this pertains to products manufactured on or after July 1, 2026.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 26, 2026

An aspect that’s similar between Bertei’s accounts and Andy Beta’s storytelling about Alice Coltrane is that Bertei is unflinchingly honest but does not offer judgment unless it pertains to herself.

From Salon ● Apr. 14, 2026

This pertains mostly to business owners, but it also could apply to homeowners or to freelancers who use a car or other equipment.

From MarketWatch ● Mar. 23, 2026

Yet the weakest section of the memoir pertains to Mr. Junod’s grandmother—Lou’s mother—and her various misdeeds, including her peripheral involvement in a 1935 crime.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 5, 2026

The analysis of the something census and how the something interacts with something as it pertains to something it was.

From "Liar, Liar" by Gary Paulsen

Federal prosecutors in the state capital of Sacramento were handling the investigations, one of which pertained to Newsom's wife's taxes, and another related to Newsom's former chief of staff, the individual said.

From BBC ● Jun. 15, 2026

The November batch of Epstein estate emails included messages between Ruemmler and Epstein where the subject matter pertained to meetings with government officials and other high profile figures, and also personal matters.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 20, 2026

Every other question during the 45 minutes the agent stood onstage pertained to the hiring process or what we could expect in training.

From Slate ● Jan. 13, 2026

Most of these concerns pertained to last year, too, yet the market rose.

From Barron's ● Jan. 9, 2026

Her mom had a lot of rules, but most of them pertained to study habits.

From "Keep It Together, Keiko Carter" by Debbi Michiko Florence

I humbly decline your request and actually would love to have a space where everyone is allowed to ask questions pertaining to bettering their understanding of their clients.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 5, 2026

“Be sure to outline specifics pertaining to burial or cremation and any desired music, readings or religious elements. Consider prepaying or prearranging funeral or memorial services.”

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 14, 2026

The lawyers' letter stated that the report was "the product of an in-depth journalistic investigations and is based on sources pertaining to an issue of paramount public importance".

From BBC ● Sep. 10, 2026

"Kenyans had no knowledge of the state of affairs pertaining the preliminary agreement."

From Barron's ● Jun. 29, 2026

This letter is to inform you that there’s been an incident pertaining to your child Ella Durand.

From "The Marvellers" by Dhonielle Clayton

Related Words

• apply
• refer
• relate