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

Tailor products and services to individual customers, such as personalized loan offers or savings plans, to increase relevance and appeal. —Raviteja Dodda, Forbes, 1 Nov. 2024

Snoop’s recent milestone of achieving Billboard Top 10 hits across four consecutive decades—joining the ranks of Jay-Z and Mariah Carey—only highlights his enduring relevance in the industry. —Jessica Lynch, Billboard, 1 Nov. 2024

This uncertainty is compounded by the fact that current tests focus on narrow benchmarks that lack real-world relevance. —Oguz A. Acar bob Bastian, Harvard Business Review, 31 Oct. 2024

But for Abu Toha, the relevance of his most recent work lies not in his own story. —Elizabeth Wells, CNN, 31 Oct. 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