relative

²relative

adj

Definition of RELATIVE

1

: introducing a subordinate clause qualifying an expressed or implied antecedent <a relative pronoun>; also : introduced by such a connective <a relative clause>

2

: relevant, pertinent <matters relative to world peace>

3

: not absolute or independent : comparative <the relative isolation of life in the country>

4

: having the same key signature —used of major and minor keys and scales

5

: expressed as the ratio of the specified quantity (as an error in measuring) to the total magnitude (as the value of a measured quantity) or to the mean of all the quantities involved

Examples of RELATIVE

1. the relative value of two houses
2. the relative positions of the islands
3. We discussed the relative merits of each school.
4. “Who,” “whom,” “whose,” “which,” and “that” are all relative pronouns.
5. The phrase “that won” in “the book that won” is a relative clause.

First Known Use of RELATIVE

15th century

Related to RELATIVE

Synonyms: almost, approximate, near, comparative

Antonyms: absolute, complete, downright, out-and-out, outright, perfect, pure, unqualified

Related Words: alike, comparable, similar; equal, equivalent

Near Antonyms: genuine, real, true

see all synonyms and antonyms

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