Something that is relevantto a situation or person is important or significant in that situation or to that person.
Is socialism still relevant to people's lives? [+ to]
We have passed all relevant information on to the police.
Synonyms: pertinent, fitting, fit, material More Synonyms of relevant
2. adjective
The relevant thing of a particular kind is the one that is appropriate.
Make sure you enclose all the relevant certificates.
Synonyms: significant, appropriate, proper, related More Synonyms of relevant
relevant in British English
(ˈrɛlɪvənt)
adjective
1.
having direct bearing on the matter in hand; pertinent
2. linguistics another word for distinctive (sense 2)
Derived forms
relevance (ˈrelevance) or relevancy (ˈrelevancy)
noun
relevantly (ˈrelevantly)
adverb
Word origin
C16: from Medieval Latin relevans, from Latin relevāre to lighten, from re- + levāre to raise, relieve
relevant in American English
(ˈrɛləvənt)
adjective
bearing upon or relating to the matter in hand; pertinent; to the point
SYNONYMY NOTE: relevant implies close logical relationship with, and importance to, the matter under consideration[relevant testimony]; germane implies such close natural connection as to be highly appropriate or fit [your reminiscences are not truly germane to this discussion]; pertinent implies an immediate and direct bearing on the matter in hand [a pertinent suggestion]; apposite applies to that which is both relevant and happily suitable or appropriate [an apposite analogy]; applicable refers to that which can be brought to bear upon a particular matter or problem [your description is applicable to several people]; apropos is used of that which is opportune as well as relevant [an apropos remark]
OPPOSITES: inappropriate, extraneous
Derived forms
relevance (ˈrelevance)
noun or ˈrelevancy
relevantly (ˈrelevantly)
adverb
Word origin
ML relevans, prp. of relevare, to bear upon < L, to lift up: see relieve
Examples of 'relevant' in a sentence
relevant
The union said complaints were always acted upon or passed to the relevant people.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Latin is a practical language and holds a lot of relevant information about the character of the plant within it.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
Your girlfriend had expressed an interest in changing her tickets and then failed to say exactly what she wanted to do after getting the relevant information.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
A powerful, still relevant tale.
The Sun (2016)
Is this information relevant to the qualifications for this position?
Christianity Today (2000)
We want to hear from relevant people.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
They have to be relevant and direct attention and efforts where they should go.
Peter F. Drucker THE ESSENTIAL DRUCKER (2001)
You have to take the bits that are still relevant.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
You have heard all the relevant facts.
Clerk, Jayana & Siegel, Ruth Modern Literatures of the Non-Western World: Where the Waters Are Born (1995)
He appealed for anyone with any relevant information to come forward.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
We are trying to drum up support from the relevant people who we hope can help.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
The fact that the song is still relevant.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
The interaction between physical and emotional illness is particularly relevant with people in this age group.
Knowles, Jane Know Your Own Mind (1991)
Relief that his round was still relevant when it finally came to a close.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Can you make them relevant for people of today and the future?
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Is it still relevant to a modern audience?
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
The aim is that the employer has all relevant information available when deciding whether to employ such a person.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
My only complaint against this admirable book is that some important relevant topics are left out of the picture.
The Times Literary Supplement (2011)
Make sure you have all relevant information to hand and are fully prepared to present your needs for funding.
The Sun (2013)
Earnings growth driven by growing sales is far more relevant and important than earnings growth driven by cost savings.
Mitchel Zacks AHEAD OF THE MARKET (2003)
What a shame that a public figure with so much relevant information to provide should be gagged in this way.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
We treat the theory of gravity as solid because of the strong relationship it bears to large numbers of relevant facts.
Salkie, Raphael The Chomsky Update - Linguistics and Politics (1990)
The relevant facts are as follows.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
The next generation of MPs needs more direct and relevant commercial experience.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
There is no relevant " fact " beyond these observations about a person's behaviour.
Salkie, Raphael The Chomsky Update - Linguistics and Politics (1990)
The site gives you crossing times and months of operation, and you can click through to book direct with the relevant ferry company.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
The advantage of having top-notch contributors is that they are able to explain complex theology in simple, direct and relevant way.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
In other languages
relevant
British English: relevant /ˈrɛlɪvənt/ ADJECTIVE
If something is relevant to a situation or person, it is important or significant in that situation or to that person.
Don't worry about last year. It's what happens today that is really relevant.
American English: relevant
Arabic: وَثِيقُ الصِّلَة بِ
Brazilian Portuguese: relevante
Chinese: 有关的
Croatian: relevantan
Czech: relevantní
Danish: relevant
Dutch: relevant
European Spanish: pertinente
Finnish: asiaan liittyvä
French: pertinent
German: relevant
Greek: συναφής
Italian: pertinente
Japanese: 関連する
Korean: 관계가 있는
Norwegian: relevant
Polish: odnośny
European Portuguese: relevante
Romanian: relevant
Russian: уместный
Latin American Spanish: pertinente
Swedish: relevant
Thai: สำคัญ
Turkish: ilişkin
Ukrainian: доречний
Vietnamese: có liên quan
Chinese translation of 'relevant'
relevant
(ˈrɛləvənt)
adj
[fact, information, question]切题(題)的 (qiètí de)
[chapter, area]相关(關)的 (xiāngguān de)
relevant to和 ... 有关(關)的 (hé ... yǒuguān de)
1 (adjective)
Definition
to do with the matter in hand
Make sure you enclose all the relevant certificates.
Synonyms
significant
It is the first drug that seems to have a significant effect on this disease.
appropriate
proper
related
fitting
material
suited
relative
to the point
The description he gave was brief and to the point.
apt
applicable
pertinent
apposite
admissible
germane
to the purpose
appurtenant
ad rem (Latin)
Opposites
irrelevant
,
inappropriate
,
unrelated
,
unconnected
,
immaterial
,
extraneous
,
beside the point
,
extrinsic
,
inapplicable
2 (adjective)
Definition
to do with the matter in hand
Is poetry still relevant to people's lives?
Synonyms
pertinent
She had asked some pertinent questions.
fitting
The President's address was a fitting end to the campaign.
fit
You're not fit to be in charge of this company.
material
The company failed to disclose material information.
appropriate
It is appropriate that Irish names dominate the list.
suitable
Give a few people an idea of suitable questions to ask.
proper
In those days it was not thought proper for a woman to be on the stage.
apt
The words of this report are as apt today as they were in 1929.
applicable
What is reasonable for one family is not applicable for another.
apposite
Recent events have made his central theme even more apposite.
apropos
Having scarcely joined in the conversation before, it was not apropos to do it now.
admissible
germane
the suppression of documents which were germane to the case
Seegermane
Synonyms of 'relevant'
relevant
Explore 'relevant' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of apropos
Definition
appropriate
Having scarcely joined in the conversation before, it was not apropos to do it now.
Synonyms
appropriate,
right,
seemly,
fitting,
fit,
related,
correct,
belonging,
suitable,
relevant,
proper,
to the point,
apt,
applicable,
pertinent,
befitting,
apposite,
opportune (formal),
germane,
to the purpose,
meet (archaic)
in the sense of apt
Definition
suitable or appropriate
The words of this report are as apt today as they were in 1929.
Synonyms
appropriate,
timely,
right,
seemly,
fitting,
fit,
related,
correct,
belonging,
suitable,
relevant,
proper,
to the point,
applicable,
pertinent,
befitting,
apposite,
apropos,
opportune (formal),
germane,
to the purpose,
meet (archaic)
in the sense of fit
Definition
worthy or suitable
You're not fit to be in charge of this company.
Synonyms
appropriate,
qualified,
suitable,
competent,
right,
becoming,
meet (archaic),
seemly,
trained,
able,
prepared,
fitting,
fitted,
ready,
skilled,
correct,
deserving,
capable,
adapted,
proper,
equipped,
good enough,
adequate,
worthy,
convenient,
apt,
well-suited,
expedient,
apposite
in the sense of fitting
Definition
appropriate or proper
The President's address was a fitting end to the campaign.
Synonyms
appropriate,
suitable,
proper,
apt,
right,
becoming,
meet (archaic),
seemly,
correct,
decent,
desirable,
apposite,
decorous,
comme il faut
in the sense of germane
Definition
relevant
the suppression of documents which were germane to the case
Synonyms
relevant,
related,
significant,
appropriate,
fitting,
material,
allied,
connected,
suitable,
proper,
apt,
applicable,
pertinent,
apposite,
apropos,
cognate,
appurtenant,
to the point or purpose
in the sense of material
Definition
relevant or pertinent
The company failed to disclose material information.
Synonyms
relevant,
important,
significant,
essential,
vital,
key,
serious,
grave,
meaningful,
applicable,
indispensable,
momentous,
weighty,
pertinent,
consequential,
apposite,
apropos,
germane
in the sense of proper
Definition
correct in behaviour
In those days it was not thought proper for a woman to be on the stage.
Synonyms
polite,
right,
becoming,
seemly,
fitting,
fit,
mannerly,
suitable,
decent,
gentlemanly,
refined,
respectable,
befitting,
genteel,
de rigueur,
ladylike,
meet (archaic),
decorous,
punctilious,
comme il faut
in the sense of relative
Definition
relevant
Synonyms
relevant,
appropriate,
applicable,
pertinent,
apposite,
apropos,
germane,
appurtenant
in the sense of suitable
Give a few people an idea of suitable questions to ask.
Synonyms
pertinent,
relevant,
applicable,
fitting,
appropriate,
to the point,
apt,
apposite,
germane
in the sense of to the point
Definition
relevant
The description he gave was brief and to the point.