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 In addition to the museum’s emergency staffing, preparations for Hurricane Milton included a full generator for its chiller plant, a type of centralized cooling system for buildings that would help maintain industry standards for temperature control and relative humidity. Karen K. Ho, ARTnews.com, 10 Oct. 2024 The heat index is calculated with a complex equation that factors in relative humidity and air temperature. Andrea Thompson, Scientific American, 1 Aug. 2024 State officials said vegetation is critically dry in San Bernardino County and temperatures reached more than 100 degrees on Saturday, with relative humidity ideal for the fire to spread. Patrick Smith, NBC News, 10 Sep. 2024 Arcis maintains a temperature of 70° Fahrenheit and a relative humidity of 50%, while the air in many parts of the building is refreshed three to six times per hour. The Editors Of Artnews, ARTnews.com, 10 Sep. 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 Nov. 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

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!