relevant
adj/ˈɹɛləvənt/ · [ˈɹʷɛləvənt]
Etymology From Scots relevant meaning "legally pertinent," used in Scottish legal circles starting in the early 1500s, and first used in English in the 1700s. Borrowed from Latin relevāns, relevāntem, present active participle of relevō (“lift up again, lighten, relieve”), from re- (“again”) + levō (“lift”).
1
Related, connected, or pertinent to a topic.
2
Especially Directly related, connected, or pertinent, with important ramifications or implications.
- His mother provided some relevant background information concerning his medical condition.
- Although autistic women with AN have cited concerns with weight/shape as less relevant in the development of their ED (Kinnaird, Norton, Stewart, et al., 2019), these could still have been a contributing factor.2025 February 14, Heather Westwood, Will Mandy, Rebecca Brewer, “The Relationship Between Interoception, Alexithymia, Autistic Traits and Eating Pathology in Autistic Adults”, in Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, →DOI:
3
Not out of date; current.
- The message of Christmas is still relevant as we near the end of a troubled year and the beginning of an uncertain but challenging new year.1973 December 20, “Hansen says Christmas time for thanks, hope”, in The Aberdeen Times:
- Motorola was quickly losing the cell-phone battle to Nokia for a time. When they launched the RAZR phone and combined it with their "Hello Moto" campaign, it made the brand relevant again.2008, Scott Cooper, Fritz Grutzner, Birk Cooper, Tips and Traps for Marketing Your Business, McGraw-Hill, →ISBN, page 39:
4
Broadly, Slang Famous, popular, or noteworthy in a contemporary context.
- Synonyms
- applicable, germane, in point, pertinent, salient, current, prevailing, prevalent, rife, up-to-date
- Antonyms
- irrelevant
- Derived terms
- biorelevant, immunorelevant, nonrelevant, omnirelevant, relevantly, safety-relevant, unrelevant