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

See Examples For:

relevance

As they celebrate America’s 250th birthday, they are also contemplating the relevance of their orientation to the nation’s conception of itself.

From Salon ● Jul. 27, 2026

Throughout “Force of Nature,” Mr. Jones develops his case for evolution’s contemporary relevance.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 24, 2026

Doing so keeps the Constitution at the center of our popular democratic culture, renewing our loyalty to the document and our sense of its relevance.

From Slate ● Jul. 20, 2026

"Human conversations are imbued with background assumptions that give meaning and relevance to the words being used," Denning explains.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 14, 2026

“Your Honor, this testimony has no relevance to the charges of murder for which this court is convened, and I move that it be disallowed from jury and the trial records.”

From "Mississippi Trial, 1955" by Chris Crowe

Related Words

• applicability
• importance
• purpose