relative
Americannoun
adjective
-
considered in relation to something else; comparative.
the relative merits of democracy and monarchy.
-
existing or having its specific nature only by relation to something else; not absolute or independent.
Happiness is relative.
-
having relation or connection.
-
having reference or regard; relevant; pertinent (usually followed byto ).
to determine the facts relative to an accident.
-
correspondent; proportionate.
Value is relative to demand.
-
(of a term, name, etc.) depending for significance upon something else.
“Better” is a relative term.
-
Grammar.
-
noting or pertaining to a word that introduces a subordinate clause of which it is, or is a part of, the subject or predicate and that refers to an expressed or implied element of the principal clause (the antecedent), as the relative pronoun who in He's the man who saw you or the relative adverb where in This is the house where she was born.
-
noting or pertaining to a relative clause.
-
idioms
adjective
-
having meaning or significance only in relation to something else; not absolute
a relative value
-
(prenominal) (of a scientific quantity) being measured or stated relative to some other substance or measurement Compare absolute
relative humidity
relative density
-
(prenominal) comparative or respective
the relative qualities of speed and accuracy
-
in proportion (to); corresponding (to)
earnings relative to production
-
having reference (to); pertinent (to)
matters not relative to the topic under discussion
-
grammar denoting or belonging to a class of words that function as subordinating conjunctions in introducing relative clauses. In English, relative pronouns and determiners include who, which, and that Compare demonstrative interrogative
-
grammar denoting or relating to a clause ( relative clause ) that modifies a noun or pronoun occurring earlier in the sentence
-
(of a musical key or scale) having the same key signature as another key or scale
C major is the relative major of A minor
noun
-
a person who is related by blood or marriage; relation
-
a relative pronoun, clause, or grammatical construction
Other Word Forms
- nonrelative noun
- nonrelatively adverb
- nonrelativeness noun
- relativeness noun
- unrelative adjective
- unrelatively adverb
Etymology
Origin of relative
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English relatif (noun), either from Middle French or from Late Latin relātīvus (adjective); relate, -ive
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
"Here its just material damage, money can fix it all. There, money can't fix life", he said, sparing a thought for the members of his community who lost relatives.
From Barron's
The U.S. efforts of Apple and its suppliers are modest relative to the global semiconductor supply chain, and Apple’s purchases represent a small percentage of its total demand for chips.
Phones pinged with constant texts from friends and relatives watching the news around the world.
From Los Angeles Times
Other stock markets within the Americas will also benefit, on a relative basis, since they will benefit from locally produced oil supplies and remain far from the conflict itself.
From Barron's
Portuguese former Aalesunds forward Braga is emblematic of Hearts' season - a relative unknown plucked from Norwegian football.
From BBC
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
