relevance

noun

rel·​e·​vance ˈre-lə-vən(t)s 

1

a

: relation to the matter at hand

b

: practical and especially social applicability : pertinence

giving relevance to college courses

2

: the ability (as of an information retrieval system) to retrieve material that satisfies the needs of the user

Synonyms

• applicability
• bearing
• connection
• materiality
• pertinence
• relevancy

Examples of relevance in a Sentence

I appreciate that you did the dishes tonight, but that has no relevance to my enforcement of the punishment you got earlier this week.

Recent Examples on the Web

When choosing influencers, prioritize relevance and engagement over sheer follower count. —Deepak Bansal, Forbes, 20 Dec. 2024

To the conscious world, the former increasingly feels like the largest inconvenience of these examples, leaving many to question and critique its relevance—the first step in disrupting this dynamic. —Akilah Sailers, Essence, 19 Dec. 2024

Further underscoring the relevance of its eyewear collections, Prada earlier this year extended its long-term partnership with Jake Gyllenhaal for its 2024 Prada Linea Rossa Eyewear campaign, first launched for the brand’s spring 2023 collection. —Luisa Zargani, WWD, 19 Dec. 2024

Take action to protect your identity Offers in this section are from affiliate partners and selected based on a combination of engagement, product relevance, compensation, and consistent availability. —Senitra Horbrook, CNBC, 19 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1787, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

relevance

noun

rel·​e·​vance ˈrel-ə-vən(t)s 

: relation to the matter at hand : pertinence

Legal Definition

relevance

noun

rel·​e·​vance ˈre-lə-vəns 

: the quality or state of being relevant : relation to the matter at hand

ruled on the relevance of the testimony

relevance in discovery has been broadly interpreted