relevance

noun

rel·​e·​vance ˈre-lə-vən(t)s How to pronounce relevance (audio)
Synonyms of relevance
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 of relevance

Relevance
See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
In addition, the relevance of cell and animal studies depends on the dose, route of exposure, duration and how closely the study conditions reflect real-world use, said Mike Gruber, interim CEO for the Household & Commercial Products Association. — Sandee Lamotte, CNN Money, 7 Aug. 2026 Nevertheless, this is an interesting development, one that goes beyond inside-baseball industry relevance. — Adam Ismail, The Drive, 6 Aug. 2026 Also playing a role would be the question of what Vilhauer calls personal relevance—whether the news of nonhuman life affected any one person directly. — Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 6 Aug. 2026 Recognizing the past in the present and future For Wounaan, ancestral stories have relevance today, structuring and guiding life now and yet to come. — Chenier Carpio Opua, The Conversation, 5 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for relevance

Word History

First Known Use

1787, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of relevance was in 1787

Rhymes for relevance

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Browse Nearby Words

reletter
relevance
relevancy
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Relevance.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/relevance. Accessed 8 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

relevance

noun
rel·​e·​vance ˈrel-ə-vən(t)s How to pronounce relevance (audio)
: relation to the matter at hand : pertinence

Legal Definition

relevance

noun
rel·​e·​vance ˈre-lə-vəns How to pronounce relevance (audio)
: 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

More from Merriam-Webster on relevance

Nglish: Translation of relevance for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about relevance

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