relevant

[rel-uh-vuhnt]

adjective

1. bearing upon or connected with the matter in hand; pertinent.

   a relevant remark.

   Synonyms: fitting, suitable, appropriate, apposite, germane, applicable

relevant

/ ˈrɛlɪvənt /

adjective

1. having direct bearing on the matter in hand; pertinent

2. linguistics another word for distinctive

Pronunciation Note

See irrelevant.

Other Word Forms

• relevance noun
• relevancy noun
• relevantly adverb
• nonrelevant adjective
• unrelevant adjective
• unrelevantly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of relevant¹

First recorded in 1550–60; from Medieval Latin relevant-, stem of relevāns, special use of Latin present participle of relevāre “to raise, lift up”; relieve ( def. ), -ant ( def. )

Word History and Origins

Origin of relevant¹

C16: from Medieval Latin relevans , from Latin relevāre to lighten, from _re- + levāre to raise, _relieve

Synonym Study

See apt.

Example Sentences

It would also end what the Dow Theory, which has remained relevant on Wall Street for more than a century, defines as an uptrend — a repeating pattern of higher peaks and higher troughs.

Read more on MarketWatch

The South's military said relevant authorities would investigate the details of Sunday's crossing.

Read more on Barron's

The old adage to “measure twice, cut once” is especially relevant for multiyear labor contracts that can cover hundreds of bargaining provisions.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

“We continue to work with expert advisors and have notified both the police and the relevant authority,” the company said.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

"It meant that the audience did not have critical information which may have been highly relevant to their assessment of the narrator and the information he provided."

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• admissible 
• applicable 
• compatible 
• consistent 
• germane 
• important 
• pertinent 
• proper 
• related 
• significant 
• suitable 
• suited