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

Lucca in recent years has reached a level of relevance for Hollywood and the Asian industry that is second to none. — Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 20 Oct. 2026

This direction is displayed in Edit, a capsule built around blended fabrics that redefine denim’s hand feel, movement and seasonal relevance, Ahmad said. — Angela Velasquez, Footwear News, 19 Oct. 2026

Is this just a cash grab, a way of maintaining relevance in a soft market, an attempt to make sure that Brown-Forman remains a relevant name in the world of collectible whiskey? — Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 18 Oct. 2026

The wealth gap has political stakes, too That sense of waiting for an opportunity has electoral relevance. — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 17 Oct. 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