germane

[ jer-meyn ]

adjective

1. closely or significantly related; relevant; pertinent:

   Please keep your statements germane to the issue.

   Synonyms: suited, apt, fitting, appropriate, apposite, applicable, related

2. Obsolete. closely related.

germane

/ dʒɜːˈmeɪn /

adjective

1. postpositiveusually foll byto related (to the topic being considered); akin; relevant

   an idea germane to the conversation

Derived Forms

• gerˈmaneness, noun
• gerˈmanely, adverb

Other Words From

• ger·manely adverb
• ger·maneness noun
• nonger·mane adjective
• unger·mane adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of germane¹

Variant of german

Word History and Origins

Origin of germane¹

variant of german ²

Example Sentences

“The comments are germane because not every pregnancy is the same,” she replied.

From Los Angeles Times

Tate’s trajectory is lurid and gross, but the references to him are more symbolically than specifically germane to the movie.

From New York Times

Enjoy Garner’s wonderfully waspish essay on aging ungracefully, which manages to germanely quote both Marilynne Robinson and Dirty Harry?

From New York Times

“That’s really germane to the Black American experience, because Black folks came to this country, and we couldn’t bring anything, so we had to create what is Black and subsequently Black culture,” Newsome says.

From Los Angeles Times

Logically’s work shouldn’t be used to undermine germane discussions of election policy and procedures that elections officials do not like.

From Seattle Times

Related Words

• applicable
• apropos
• apt
• pertinent
• relevant