relative

1 of 2

noun

rel·​a·​tive ˈre-lə-tiv How to pronounce relative (audio)
1
: a word referring grammatically to an antecedent
2
: a thing having a relation to or connection with or necessary dependence on another thing
3
a
: a person connected with another by blood or affinity
b
: an animal or plant related to another by common descent
4
: a relative term

relative

2 of 2

adjective

1
: introducing a subordinate clause qualifying an expressed or implied antecedent
a relative pronoun
also : introduced by such a connective
a relative clause
2
: relevant, pertinent
matters relative to world peace
3
: not absolute or independent : comparative
the relative isolation of life in the country
4
: having the same key signature
used of major and minor keys and scales
5
: expressed as the ratio of the specified quantity (such as an error in measuring) to the total magnitude (such as the value of a measured quantity) or to the mean of all the quantities involved

Examples of relative in a Sentence

Noun At the family reunion, I saw relatives I haven't seen in years. He inherited a small piece of land from a distant relative. The donkey is a relative of the horse. Adjective the relative value of two houses the relative positions of the islands We discussed the relative merits of each school. “Who,” “whom,” “whose,” “which,” and “that” are all relative pronouns. The phrase “that won” in “the book that won” is a relative clause.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Your score is calculated via various questions that are designed to obtain information about your personal health history, along with your family history of breast cancer in first-degree relatives, like your parents and siblings. Korin Miller, SELF, 14 Mar. 2024 For my relatives, observing Ramadan and cooking also serve as acts of resistance and sumood, or steadfastness, against a dehumanizing war. Laila El-Haddad, The Mercury News, 13 Mar. 2024 But her relatives had a selfish motive: to prepare their blue-blooded daughters for life at Russian court, where they would be expected to not only serve as their family’s representatives but also use their cleverness to increase the family’s prestige. E.r. Zarevich, Smithsonian Magazine, 12 Mar. 2024 For some people, another low-cost option might be to borrow from a close relative or friend, but only if doing so would not jeopardize your relationship — which is a very personal decision. Jeanne Sahadi, CNN, 11 Mar. 2024 However, relatives and associates have identified them as Illinois residents Eva Liu, who died, and Kelsey Chang, who survived. Kate Brady, Washington Post, 11 Mar. 2024 The last set of photos showed the Kelly family posing in front of a Christmas tree and with relatives over the 2023 holidays. Esme Mazzeo, Peoplemag, 11 Mar. 2024 Friends and relatives knew what was happening to her mother, but didn't intervene. Jon Hamilton, NPR, 8 Mar. 2024 Drexel Mack is survived by his fiancé, Janelle Ruffin, who has three children, and his son Drexel Mack Jr., 19, who lives in Miami near other relatives. Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 2 Mar. 2024
Adjective
While some PHEVs do deliver significant emission reductions, many do not, and their inappropriate categorization distorts public perceptions about the relative merits of the major green powertrains. Peter Douglas, The Mercury News, 17 Mar. 2024 In addition to an amazing range, their musical ear places them at relative perfect pitch. Heide Janssen, Orange County Register, 17 Mar. 2024 Some camps run their sign-ups in relative secrecy, choosing not to advertise and relying on parents of happy campers to spread the word. Marisa Iati, Washington Post, 16 Mar. 2024 The other thing is the cost cap, which is only in its relative infancy. Viju Mathew, Robb Report, 15 Mar. 2024 That’s because most of them spent their careers toiling in relative anonymity. Mark Z. Barabak, Los Angeles Times, 14 Mar. 2024 Put on your headphones and let the rest of us enjoy our flight in relative peace. Zach Wichter, USA TODAY, 13 Mar. 2024 The record also received rave reviews, but a 1994 Wall Street Journal article called her credentials into question, despite Boss’ self-satirizing interludes on record in which her parents addressed the relative privilege of her Catholic-school upbringing. Jazz Monroe, Pitchfork, 13 Mar. 2024 The company is racing to reduce its debt load in the face of rapidly falling prices that have increased its relative indebtedness. Jack Sidders, Fortune Europe, 12 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'relative.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of relative was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near relative

Cite this Entry

“Relative.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/relative. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

relative

1 of 2 noun
rel·​a·​tive ˈrel-ət-iv How to pronounce relative (audio)
1
: a word referring grammatically to one that comes before it
2
: a person connected with another by blood or marriage

relative

2 of 2 adjective
1
a
: introducing a subordinate clause that qualifies an expressed or implied antecedent
relative pronoun
b
: introduced by a word having such an antecedent
relative clause
2
: relevant, pertinent
questions relative to the topic
3
: existing in comparison to something else
the relative value of two houses
4
: having the same key signature
used of major and minor keys and scales
relativeness noun

Legal Definition

relative

adjective
rel·​a·​tive
1
: not absolute
2
in the civil law of Louisiana : having or allowing some legal effect
a relative impediment
a relative simulation
see also relative nullity at nullity
relatively adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on relative

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!