relative

[ rel-uh-tiv ]

/ ˈrɛl ə tɪv /

Save This Word!

See synonyms for: relative / relatives on Thesaurus.com

noun

a person who is connected with another or others by blood or marriage.

something having, or standing in, some relation or connection to something else.

something dependent upon external conditions for its specific nature, size, etc. (opposed to absolute).

Grammar. a relative pronoun, adjective, or adverb.

adjective

considered in relation to something else; comparative: the relative merits of democracy and monarchy.

existing or having its specific nature only by relation to something else; not absolute or independent: Happiness is relative.

having relation or connection.

having reference or regard; relevant; pertinent (usually followed by to): to determine the facts relative to an accident.

correspondent; proportionate: Value is relative to demand.

(of a term, name, etc.) depending for significance upon something else: “Better” is a relative term.

Grammar.

noting or pertaining to a word that introduces a subordinate clause of which it is, or is a part of, the subject or predicate and that refers to an expressed or implied element of the principal clause (the antecedent), as the relative pronoun who in He's the man who saw you or the relative adverb where in This is the house where she was born.
noting or pertaining to a relative clause.

QUIZ

CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?

There are grammar debates that never die; and the ones highlighted in the questions in this quiz are sure to rile everyone up once again. Do you know how to answer the questions that cause some of the greatest grammar debates?

Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Idioms about relative

it’s all relative. See entry at it's all relative.

Origin of relative

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English relatif (noun), either from Middle French or from Late Latin relātīvus (adjective); see relate, -ive

OTHER WORDS FROM relative

non·rel·a·tive, noun, adjectivenon·rel·a·tive·ly, adverbnon·rel·a·tive·ness, nounun·rel·a·tive, adjective

un·rel·a·tive·ly, adverb

Words nearby relative

relational, relational database, relations, relationship, relationship marketing, relative, relative aperture, relative atomic mass, relative bearing, relative clause, relative complement

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use relative in a sentence

It’s not uncommon for a cheaper goalie — relative both to his backup and the rest of the league — to catch fire in the playoffs.
An Expensive Goalie Is Not Your Ticket To The Stanley Cup|Julian McKenzie|September 9, 2020|FiveThirtyEight
Antetokounmpo currently leads the playoffs in total defensive rebounds and overall rebounds, so his lack of minutes relative to other stars has not hampered his total production on defense, either.
Giannis Is Doing More Work In Less Time|Andres Waters|September 4, 2020|FiveThirtyEight
When winds were strongly blowing from the south, and there was less sea ice, the relative amount of oxygen-18 increased.
Bering Sea winter ice shrank to its lowest level in 5,500 years in 2018|Carolyn Gramling|September 3, 2020|Science News
As aerosol pollution from vehicles has declined, the relative contribution from other sources has grown.
City pavement is a big source of air pollution|Ula Chrobak|September 3, 2020|Popular-Science

If anything, the crampers started a little bit slower relative to their lab-measured fitness.
The Enduring Mystery of Muscle Cramps|Alex Hutchinson|September 1, 2020|Outside Online
But relative to centuries past, America is a marvel of domestic tranquility.
No Gods, No Cops, No Masters|James Poulos|January 1, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Parents who want to transfer custody of a child to someone other than a relative must seek permission from a judge.
Judge: Rehoming Kids Is Trafficking|Tina Traster|December 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST
While traveling this holiday season, a relative and I were pulled over by a police officer.
Obama Is Right on Race. The Media Is Wrong.|Keli Goff|December 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Of course, this is The Comeback, and so "success" is a relative word.
‘The Comeback’ Finale: Give Lisa Kudrow All of the Awards|Kevin Fallon|December 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Her son peeked out the window and told me his mother had left Havana for La Lisa to visit a dying relative.
The Life and Hard Times Of The Family A Cuban Defector Left Behind|Brin-Jonathan Butler|December 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But I suppose, as he is my nearest relative, it is but natural he should be anxious about my health.
The Pit Town Coronet, Volume I (of 3)|Charles James Wills
This had been quite genuine, for the Professor had been fond of his relative, who had always been very good to him.
Uncanny Tales|Various
The relative quantity of labor embodied in each object is the basis of its value.
The Unsolved Riddle of Social Justice|Stephen Leacock
It is evident that an absolute increase of any variety may be accompanied by a relative decrease.
A Manual of Clinical Diagnosis|James Campbell Todd
An increase in actual number is an absolute increase; an increase in percentage only, a relative increase.
A Manual of Clinical Diagnosis|James Campbell Todd

British Dictionary definitions for relative

relative

/ (ˈrɛlətɪv) /

adjective

having meaning or significance only in relation to something else; not absolutea relative value

(prenominal) (of a scientific quantity) being measured or stated relative to some other substance or measurementrelative humidity; relative density Compare absolute (def. 10)

(prenominal) comparative or respectivethe relative qualities of speed and accuracy

(postpositive foll by to) in proportion (to); corresponding (to)earnings relative to production

having reference (to); pertinent (to)matters not relative to the topic under discussion

grammar denoting or belonging to a class of words that function as subordinating conjunctions in introducing relative clauses. In English, relative pronouns and determiners include who, which, and thatCompare demonstrative (def. 5), interrogative (def. 3)

grammar denoting or relating to a clause (relative clause) that modifies a noun or pronoun occurring earlier in the sentence

(of a musical key or scale) having the same key signature as another key or scaleC major is the relative major of A minor

noun

a person who is related by blood or marriage; relation

a relative pronoun, clause, or grammatical construction

Derived forms of relative

relativeness, noun

Word Origin for relative

C16: from Late Latin relātīvus referring

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

relative

Idioms about relative

Origin of relative

OTHER WORDS FROM relative

Words nearby relative

Words related to relative

How to use relative in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for relative

Derived forms of relative

Word Origin for relative