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relative humidity
noun
: the ratio of the amount of water vapor actually present in the air to the greatest amount possible at the same temperature
Examples of relative humidity in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The county now issues advisories when the heat index— what the temperature feels like to the human body when relative humidity is combined with the air temperature — reaches 105 degrees, down from the previous 108 degrees.
—Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 28 June 2024
Though a heat wave across the region has peaked, firefighters still faced high temperatures with relative humidity around 20%.
—Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 9 Sep. 2024
According to Sara Purdue, a meteorologist with the weather service’s Sacramento office, breezy and gusty winds are expected throughout the day along the Sierra foothills and high basin in California’s extreme northeast, with low relative humidity during the day and into the night.
—Camila Pedrosa, Sacramento Bee, 25 July 2024
With near 100 percent relative humidity, patchy fog is again possible.
—A. Camden Walker, Washington Post, 19 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for relative humidity
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'relative humidity.' 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
1819, in the meaning defined above
Time Traveler
The first known use of relative humidity was
in 1819
Dictionary Entries Near relative humidity
Cite this Entry
“Relative humidity.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/relative%20humidity. Accessed 5 Oct. 2024.
Kids Definition
relative humidity
noun
: the amount of water vapor actually present in the air compared to the greatest amount possible at the same temperature
Medical Definition
relative humidity
noun
: the ratio of the amount of water vapor actually present in the air to the greatest amount possible at the same temperature compare absolute humidity
More from Merriam-Webster on relative humidity
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about relative humidity
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