relatively
Americanadverb
-
in a relative manner.
a relatively small difference.
-
Archaic.
-
with reference (usually followed byto ).
-
in proportion (usually followed byto ).
-
adverb
Etymology
Origin of relatively
Explanation
Use relatively when you want to make a statement about something compared to something else. After a zero degree day, 30 degrees might feel relatively warm. This adverb has to do with how things stack up next to each other. Relatively speaking, you could say you're tall if you're around very short people, even if you're just five five. Fat free ice cream is relatively healthy compared to other desserts, but it's still ice cream. If you've been sick for a week and you feel relatively better, you're feeling just a little better. This word only makes sense when you're comparing one thing to another.
Vocabulary lists containing relatively
Britain's Finest Hour Speech - Winston Churchill (1940)
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Florida's B.E.S.T. Common Suffixes: -ly
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
"Shakespeare's Life"
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Water can continue flowing through these crystals, dissolving them and making the systems relatively easy to clean.
From Science Daily • May 31, 2026
Wall Street’s hottest trade lately has been a relatively simple one: Just buy shares of stocks that have already been winning.
From MarketWatch • May 30, 2026
While Project Freedom didn’t last, it left a relatively safe path through the Gulf.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 30, 2026
NFU Mutual's rural affairs specialist Hannah Binns said the organised element of rural crime was a "relatively new threat" and collaboration between sectors was essential to respond.
From BBC • May 30, 2026
Much of what he found was relatively intuitive—albeit with a twist.
From "The Gene" by Siddhartha Mukherjee
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
