relevance
Americannoun
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."
Vocabulary lists containing relevance
Academic Vocabulary Toolkit 1, Words 81-90
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100 SAT words Beginning with "R"
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The Bluest Eye
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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.
I thought my findings, like many academic papers, would have limited lasting relevance in the fast-evolving world of business.
From Barron's • Jun. 5, 2026
But even from a business-minded standpoint, by any hard-minded accounting of costs and time and reach and relevance and adaptability and return on investment, 60 Minutes was working.
From Slate • Jun. 5, 2026
Raman is well-versed on matters of relevance and could have pushed back against Bass in substantive, detailed ways.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 4, 2026
Companies typically release an API alongside a new model, or within a few weeks of releasing it, to maximize its relevance among developers.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 4, 2026
The telescope addressed directly issues that were already under discussion; the microscope opened up new lines of enquiry whose relevance to current concerns was not obvious.
From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton
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.
