relational

adjective

re·​la·​tion·​al ri-ˈlā-shnəl 

-shə-nᵊl

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

Need to challenge a relational dynamic? —Usa Today, USA Today, 21 Oct. 2025

The fresh process takes criminal DNA samples and compares them across public databases to check for relational matches. —Caroline Blair, PEOPLE, 18 Oct. 2025

Real transformations are relational, not transactional; rare; time- and attention-intensive; absolutely disorienting; and immersive. —Brené Brown, Fortune, 14 Oct. 2025

Venus is closing its run in Virgo in your private, spiritual sector, softening the edges and reminding you to take space for yourself amidst all the relational fireworks. —Dossé-Via Trenou, Refinery29, 5 Oct. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1662, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing relational

• relational grammar

Rhymes for relational

• formational
• foundational
• gestational
• gradational
• locational
• mutational
• nonrational
• notational
• rotational
• sensational
• translational
• vibrational