pertinence

American  

[pur-tn-uhns] / ˈpɜr tn əns /

Sometimes pertinency

noun

1. the fact or quality of being directly and significantly related to the matter at hand; relevance.

   The sheer quantity of health information on the Internet makes it challenging for users to judge the pertinence, credibility, and applicability of what is retrieved.

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• nonpertinency
  noun
• nonpertinence
  noun

Etymology

Origin of pertinence

First recorded in 1350–1400, for an earlier sense; pertin(ent) ( def. ) + -ence ( def. )

Example Sentences

“Those are timeless issues, and obviously they have a certain pertinence today in the United States of America.”

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 27, 2026

The Reds' failed bid four years ago will be of most pertinence to the Gunners, given it was Manchester City, Arsenal's closest title rivals, who overhauled them.

From BBC • Jan. 31, 2023

No one is questioning the legality or pertinence of allowing divergent viewpoints.

From Washington Times • Dec. 15, 2022

The history of the previous century, however, teaches the pertinence of a nation’s internal dynamics to its external behavior.

From Washington Post • Oct. 7, 2022

They were about the same in other towns, but the Salinas Row has a pertinence to this telling.

From "East of Eden" by John Steinbeck