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.
There is greater scrutiny around price, design longevity, craftsmanship, functionality and brand relevance. — Miles Socha, Footwear News, 3 Sep. 2026 The country is more vulnerable to an oil slump than many other producers, making its defense of prices and preservation of OPEC’s relevance a priority. — Wael Mahdi, semafor.com, 3 Sep. 2026 The film’s contemporary relevance is clear, in the filmmaker’s view. — Leo Barraclough, Variety, 2 Sep. 2026 Amazon estimates advertisers saved more than $8 billion from 2021 through 2025 because its auction system considers ad relevance instead of simply selecting the highest bidder. — Anthony Thompson, USA Today, 1 Sep. 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

See All Rhymes for relevance

Browse Nearby Words

reletter
relevance
relevancy
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Cite this Entry

“Relevance.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/relevance. Accessed 4 Sep. 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

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about relevance

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