relative

[ rel-uh-tiv ]

noun

1. a person who is connected with another or others by blood or marriage.
2. something having, or standing in, some relation or connection to something else.
3. something dependent upon external conditions for its specific nature, size, etc. ( absolute ).
4. Grammar. a relative pronoun, adjective, or adverb.

adjective

1. considered in relation to something else; comparative:

   the relative merits of democracy and monarchy.

2. existing or having its specific nature only by relation to something else; not absolute or independent:

   Happiness is relative.

3. having relation or connection.
4. having reference or regard; relevant; pertinent (usually followed by to ):

   to determine the facts relative to an accident.

5. correspondent; proportionate:

   Value is relative to demand.

6. (of a term, name, etc.) depending for significance upon something else:

   “Better” is a relative term.

7. Grammar.
   1. noting or pertaining to a word that introduces a subordinate clause of which it is, or is a part of, the subject or predicate and that refers to an expressed or implied element of the principal clause (the antecedent), as the relative pronoun who in He's the man who saw you or the relative adverb where in This is the house where she was born.
   2. noting or pertaining to a relative clause.

relative

/ ˈrɛlətɪv /

adjective

1. having meaning or significance only in relation to something else; not absolute

   a relative value

2. prenominal (of a scientific quantity) being measured or stated relative to some other substance or measurement Compare absolute

   relative density

   relative humidity

3. prenominal comparative or respective

   the relative qualities of speed and accuracy

4. postpositivefoll byto in proportion (to); corresponding (to)

   earnings relative to production

5. having reference (to); pertinent (to)

   matters not relative to the topic under discussion

6. grammar denoting or belonging to a class of words that function as subordinating conjunctions in introducing relative clauses. In English, relative pronouns and determiners include who, which, and that Compare demonstrative interrogative
7. grammar denoting or relating to a clause ( relative clause ) that modifies a noun or pronoun occurring earlier in the sentence
8. (of a musical key or scale) having the same key signature as another key or scale

   C major is the relative major of A minor

noun

1. a person who is related by blood or marriage; relation
2. a relative pronoun, clause, or grammatical construction

Derived Forms

• ˈrelativeness, noun

Other Words From

• non·rel·a·tive noun adjective
• non·rel·a·tive·ly adverb
• non·rel·a·tive·ness noun
• un·rel·a·tive adjective
• un·rel·a·tive·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of relative¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English relatif (noun), either from Middle French or from Late Latin relātīvus (adjective); relate, -ive

Word History and Origins

Origin of relative¹

C16: from Late Latin relātīvus referring

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. it’s all relative. it's all relative ( def ).

Example Sentences

Some sources in government have expressed concerns that the chancellor is creating unnecessary grief over a change that is not, in relative terms, a huge money spinner.

From BBC

Finding out his relative “helped bring freedom to so many people” has brought Cameron “a real sense of pride,” he says.

From BBC

Previous victims have come to the house and threatened his relatives, who he also had a habit of lying to.

From BBC

"It can be brutal. We all know. So many people have lost family, relatives, partners to cancer," she said.

From BBC

Prior to Cresswell’s arrest, several people, including relatives of Ms Simpson, had raised concerns about him.

From BBC

Related Words

• analogous
• corresponding
• proportionate
• related