relevance

noun

rel·​e·​vance ˈre-lə-vən(t)s 

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

• relevancy

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

Companies earn relevance one community at a time, and that’s where momentum either builds or breaks down. — Jeremy Barnett, Forbes.com, 29 Sep. 2026

Our focus is on investing selectively in distinctive products with lasting wardrobe relevance. — Samantha Conti, Footwear News, 28 Sep. 2026

An approach to hospitality in which elegance is expressed not through excess, but through the relevance of every gesture and the thought behind every choice. — Guy Bigiaoui, Miami Herald, 28 Sep. 2026

Reach without relevance is just noise Building a company that lasts requires more than one successful product or launch. — Kirk Tanner, Fortune, 26 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1787, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for relevance

• irrelevance

Kids Definition

relevance

noun

rel·​e·​vance ˈrel-ə-vən(t)s 

: relation to the matter at hand : pertinence

Legal Definition

relevance

noun

rel·​e·​vance ˈre-lə-vəns 

: 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