1
: of or relating to kinship
2
: characterized or constituted by relations
3
: having the function chiefly of indicating a relation of syntax
has is notional in he has luck, relational in he has gone
4
: relating to, using, or being a method of organizing data in a database so that it is perceived by the user as a set of tables
relationally adverb

Examples of relational in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Community and social support is diffuse, relational, and hard to measure. Kyle Vanelli, STAT, 14 Aug. 2026 Gifts in close relationships carry stronger expectations around relational signaling. Ryan Brennan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 13 Aug. 2026 Venus enters Libra and your 10th House of Career, bringing grace, visibility, and relational intelligence into professional matters. Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 6 Aug. 2026 Susan Asiyanbi, founder of The Olori Network, helps CEOs strengthen the relational capacity of their executive teams to drive performance. Susan Asiyanbi, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for relational

Word History

First Known Use

1662, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of relational was in 1662

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Cite this Entry

“Relational.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/relational. Accessed 22 Aug. 2026.

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