relative

1 of 2

noun

rel·​a·​tive ˈre-lə-tiv 

1

: a word referring grammatically to an antecedent

2

: a thing having a relation to or connection with or necessary dependence on another thing

3

a

: a person connected with another by blood or affinity

b

: an animal or plant related to another by common descent

4

: a relative term

relative

2 of 2

adjective

1

: introducing a subordinate clause qualifying an expressed or implied antecedent

a relative pronoun

also : introduced by such a connective

a relative clause

2

: relevant, pertinent

matters relative to world peace

3

: not absolute or independent : comparative

the relative isolation of life in the country

4

: having the same key signature

—used of major and minor keys and scales

5

: expressed as the ratio of the specified quantity (such as an error in measuring) to the total magnitude (such as the value of a measured quantity) or to the mean of all the quantities involved

Synonyms

Noun

• cousin
• kin
• kinsman
• relation

Adjective

• almost
• approximate
• comparative
• near

Examples of relative in a Sentence

Noun

At the family reunion, I saw relatives I haven't seen in years.

He inherited a small piece of land from a distant relative.

The donkey is a relative of the horse.

Adjective

the relative value of two houses

the relative positions of the islands

We discussed the relative merits of each school.

“Who,” “whom,” “whose,” “which,” and “that” are all relative pronouns.

The phrase “that won” in “the book that won” is a relative clause.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The Hamilton County Coroner's Office is requesting help finding the relatives of a man who died this week. —Erin Couch, The Enquirer, 24 Dec. 2024

Nearly all of her relatives on her mother’s side died in concentration camps during the Holocaust. —E. Alex Jung, Vulture, 23 Dec. 2024

Adjective

Taking your furry relative outside not only provides you with a (literal and figurative) breath of fresh air, but your family might even see your secretly selfish wish for alone time as a noble act of kindness. —Jenna Ryu, SELF, 26 Dec. 2024

Some were catapulted into the limelight from relative obscurity and were soon juggling major awards ceremonies and lucrative studio deals. —Alex Ritman, Variety, 26 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing relative

• blood relative
• it's all relative
• relative humidity
• relative to
• relative wind

Kids Definition

relative

1 of 2 noun

rel·​a·​tive ˈrel-ət-iv 

1

: a word referring grammatically to one that comes before it

2

: a person connected with another by blood or marriage

relative

2 of 2 adjective

1

a

: introducing a subordinate clause that qualifies an expressed or implied antecedent

relative pronoun

b

: introduced by a word having such an antecedent

relative clause

2

: relevant, pertinent

questions relative to the topic

3

: existing in comparison to something else

the relative value of two houses

4

: having the same key signature

—used of major and minor keys and scales

relativeness noun

Legal Definition

relative

adjective

rel·​a·​tive

1

: not absolute

2

in the civil law of Louisiana : having or allowing some legal effect

a relative impediment

a relative simulation

see also relative nullity at nullity

relatively adverb