pertain

verb

per·​tain pər-ˈtān 

pertained; pertaining; pertains

intransitive verb

1

a(1)

: to belong as a part, member, accessory, or product

(2)

: to belong as an attribute, feature, or function

the destruction pertaining to war

(3)

: to belong as a duty or right

rights that pertain to fatherhood

b

: to be appropriate to something

which rule pertains?

2

: to have reference

books pertaining to birds

Did you know?

Pertain comes to English via Anglo-French from the Latin verb pertinēre, meaning "to reach to" or "to belong." Pertinēre, in turn, was formed by combining the prefix per- (meaning "through") and tenēre ("to hold"). Tenēre is a popular root in English words and often manifests with the -tain spelling that can be seen in pertain. Other descendants include abstain, contain, detain, maintain, obtain, retain, and sustain, to name a few of the more common ones. Not every -tain word has tenēre in its ancestry, though. Ascertain, attain, and certain are certainly exceptions. And a few tenēre words don't follow the usual pattern: tenacious and tenure are two.

Synonyms of pertain

• belong

Examples of pertain in a Sentence

books pertaining to the country's history

the belief that quality medical care is a right that pertains to everyone

Recent Examples on the Web

This would only pertain to certain private schools that have received federal dollars. — Mollie Simon, ProPublica, 16 July 2026

On Tuesday, July 14, Teresa Giudice‘s 20-year-old daughter virtually appeared in court for a hearing pertaining to her May 14 arrest alongside her attorney Alan Kraminsky. — Yamillah Hurtado, PEOPLE, 14 July 2026

While Wise’s veterinary license remains active, McMahan said that anything pertaining to that license would have to come from the Attorney General’s Office, which would bring findings to the veterinary board. — Post-Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 10 July 2026

Poncy claims the renaming could lead to safety risk and communication issues for pilots and air traffic controllers, raises uncertainties pertaining to licensing and trademark rights, and is an overreach of power on local government. — Abigail Hasebroock, Sun Sentinel, 8 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English perteinen, from Anglo-French partenir, purteiner, from Latin pertinēre to reach to, belong, from per- through + tenēre to hold — more at thin

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a(1)

Rhymes for pertain

• abstain
• airplane
• alkane
• arcane
• arraign
• attain
• backplane
• betaine
• biplane
• blockchain
• butane
• campaign

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Kids Definition

pertain

verb

per·​tain pər-ˈtān 

1

: to belong to a person or thing as a part, quality, or function

duties that pertain to an office

2

: to have reference

books pertaining to birds