relatability

American  

[ri-ley-tuh-bil-i-tee] / rɪˌleɪ təˈbɪl ɪ ti /

noun

1. the quality of being able to easily form social or emotional connections.

   Wit, humor, light-heartedness, genuineness, and relatability are all quality ingredients for a personality pie.

   The coach strikes a note of relatability and resonance with his players, having been in their shoes not so long ago.

2. the quality of being easily connected or linked.

   Infants presented with an image lacking alignment and relatability looked significantly longer at the complete image, suggesting that they saw the first image as two separate pieces.

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Etymology

Origin of relatability

relat(able) ( def. ) + -ability ( def. )

Example Sentences

The actress could also make a political statement: ChatGPT noted that her ambiguous ethnicity “not only adds to global relatability but also aligns with modern ideals of inclusivity.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 6, 2025

Are we stretching credibility so far that we break the bond of relatability with the audience?”

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 24, 2025

Swift is the most famous pop star in America and perhaps the world, but her appeal comes from her relatability.

From Slate • Aug. 28, 2025

Throughout her career, Swift has used the internet to engage fans, carefully crafting a sense of relatability.

From BBC • Aug. 26, 2025

Cosby may have written Theo’s relatability into the character, since he’s based on his son Ennis, but it’s Warner’s genial presence that won us over.

From Salon • Jul. 23, 2025