pertinence

noun

per·​ti·​nence ˈpər-tə-nən(t)s How to pronounce pertinence (audio)
ˈpərt-nən(t)s
: the quality or state of being pertinent : relevance

Examples of pertinence in a Sentence

job applicants should question the pertinence of any questions about their personal lives
Recent Examples on the Web On Wednesday, attorneys for both families argued about the pertinence of Roberta Laundrie’s letter to the upcoming civil trial before the judge ruled that a copy be given to Petito’s parents. Praveena Somasundaram, Washington Post, 26 May 2023 Of course, users will have to sort and verify the information for pertinence and accuracy, the LLM nonetheless captures vital information from across the entire organization, fostering greater knowledge. Patrick Moorhead, Forbes, 16 Mar. 2023 At the same time, this information's medical pertinence to COVID-19 transmission or lethality is not broadly understood, unlike other demographic distinctions such as age, ethnicity, pre-existing conditions or occupations (such as front-line health care workers). Editorial Board, Star Tribune, 5 Mar. 2021 The change comes amid calls for the foundation’s awards and categories to properly and realistically reflect today’s culinary and media scenes as culinary and media professionals question the pertinence of the James Beard Foundation’s role in the industry. Shauna Stuart | Sstuart@al.com, al, 20 Aug. 2020 It’s arrived nearly a year late in her hometown, but her disquieted art has only grown in pertinence and power. Jason Farago, New York Times, 25 Mar. 2021 The pertinence of that last detail would become all too clear a little more than a decade later, with the Great Fire of 1872. Mark Feeney, BostonGlobe.com, 19 Jan. 2023 But energy analysts largely dismiss the cap’s pertinence to prices, and some say the market’s thinking seems muddled. Bob Henderson, WSJ, 30 Nov. 2022 He’ll be remembered for the high quality of his movies and for their pertinence. Brent Lang, Variety, 26 July 2022 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'pertinence.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1611, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of pertinence was in 1611

Dictionary Entries Near pertinence

Cite this Entry

“Pertinence.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pertinence. Accessed 4 Oct. 2023.

Kids Definition

pertinence

noun
per·​ti·​nence ˈpərt-ᵊn-ən(t)s How to pronounce pertinence (audio)
ˈpərt-nən(t)s
: the quality or state of being pertinent : relevance

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