relevance

American  

[rel-uh-vuhns] / ˈrɛl ə vəns /

Often relevancy

noun

1. the condition of being relevant, or connected with the matter at hand.

   Some traditional institutions of the media lack relevance in this digital age.

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Etymology

Origin of relevance

First recorded in 1620–30, for an earlier sense; relev(ant) ( def. ) + -ance ( def. )

Explanation

To know the relevance of something is to know why it matters or how it is important. I don't understand the relevance of this discussion: it doesn't seem important to me. If you don't understand the relevance of the word "relevant" to the discussion of the meaning of the word relevance, we're gonna have some trouble. When something is "relevant," it matters. Its relevance is clear. Relevance is simply the noun form of the adjective "relevant," which means "important to the matter at hand." Artists and politicians are always worried about their relevance. If they are no longer relevant, they may not keep their job. Someone without relevance might be called "irrelevant."

Example Sentences

“Not knowing the Cannes Film Festival is almost impossible,” he adds of the event’s global relevance.

From Los Angeles Times • May 12, 2026

The company has been quietly researching hantaviruses for years, and that work is gaining new relevance.

From MarketWatch • May 11, 2026

Most strikingly, the conflict seems to have restored something Pakistan had long lost: geopolitical relevance.

From BBC • May 7, 2026

“We have been stressing the increasing relevance of equity markets for dollar crosses, and this remains crucial,” he added.

From Barron's • May 7, 2026

Two books published since then have increased our understanding of that chaotic period of New Zealand history, placed it in a broader historical context, and made its relevance to GGS even clearer.

From "Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies" by Jared M. Diamond

Related Words

• applicability
• importance
• purpose