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relevant

6 dictionary results for: relevant

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

rel·e·vant

[rel-uh-vuh

nt] Pronunciation Key

–adjective

bearing upon or connected with the matter in hand; pertinent: a relevant remark.

[Origin: 1550–60; < ML relevant- (s. of relevāns), special use of L, prp. of relevāre to raise, lift up. See relieve, -ant

]

—Related forms

rel·e·vance, rel·e·van·cy, noun

rel·e·vant·ly, adverb

—Synonyms applicable, germane, apposite, appropriate, suitable, fitting. See apt.

—Pronunciation note See irrelevant.

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

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American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

rel·e·vant (rěl'ə-vənt) Pronunciation Key
adj. Having a bearing on or connection with the matter at hand.

[Medieval Latin relevāns, relevant-, from Latin, present participle of relevāre, to relieve, raise up; see relieve.]

rel'e·vant·ly adv.

Synonyms: These adjectives describe what relates to and has a direct bearing on the matter at hand. Something relevant is connected with a subject or issue: performed experiments relevant to her research.
Pertinent suggests a logical, precise relevance: assigned pertinent articles for the class to read.
Germane implies close kinship and appropriateness: "He asks questions that are germane and central to the issue" (Marlin Fitzwater).
Something material is not only relevant but also crucial to a matter: reiterated the material facts of the lawsuit.
Apposite implies a striking appropriateness and pertinence: used apposite verbal images in the paper.
Something apropos is both to the point and opportune: an apropos comment that concisely answered my question.

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Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
relevant

"pertinent to the matter at hand," 1560, from M.L. relevantem (1481), prp. of L. relevare "to lessen, lighten" (see relieve). Originally a Scottish legal term meaning "take up, take possession of property;" not generally used until after 1800. Relevance is from 1733 (relevancy in the same sense is recorded from 1561).

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WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This

relevant
adjective
having a bearing on or connection with the subject at issue; "the scientist corresponds with colleagues in order to learn about matters relevant to her own research" [ant: irrelevant]

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Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law - Cite This Source - Share This
Main Entry: rel·e·vant
Pronunciation: 're-l&-v&nt
Function: adjective
1 : tending logically to prove or disprove a fact of consequence or to make the fact more or less probable and thereby aiding the trier of fact in making a decision relevant>; also : having a bearing on or reasonably calculated to lead to a matter that bears on any issue in a case for purposes of pretrial discovery —see also relevant evidence at EVIDENCE
2 : having significant and demonstrable bearing on facts or issues relevant case>

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Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Relevant

Rel"e*vant\ (-vant), a. [F. relevant, p. pr. of relever to raise again, to relieve. See Relieve.]

1. Relieving; lending aid or support. [R.] --Pownall.

2. Bearing upon, or properly applying to, the case in hand; pertinent; applicable.

Close and relevant arguments have very little hold on the passions. --Sydney Smith.

3. (Scots Law) Sufficient to support the cause.

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