relative

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noun rel·a·tive \ ˈre-lə-tiv \

Definition of relative

1 :a word referring grammatically to an antecedent

2 :a thing having a relation to or connection with or necessary dependence on another thing

3 a :a person connected with another by blood or affinity

b :an animal or plant related to another by common descent

4 :a relative term

See relative defined for English-language learners

See relative defined for kids

Examples of relative in a Sentence

At the family reunion, I saw relatives I haven't seen in years.
He inherited a small piece of land from a distant relative.
The donkey is a relative of the horse.

Recent Examples of relative from the Web

How many residents had fled to hotels or the homes of friends or relatives was anyone’s guess.

— julie turkewitz, richard pÉrez-peÑa and jack healy, New York Times, "Deluged Texas Braces for More Rain, and Years of Recovery," 28 Aug. 2017
At least five of the 10 missing sailors have been identified by relatives.

— christopher harress, AL.com, "Ask Alabama: You vote, we investigate," 23 Aug. 2017
The family seemed in good spirits and promptly left the scene with relatives, Dawson said.

— rick montgomery, kansascity, "Why was flooded-out Overland Park family of seven stranded on roof for hours?," 22 Aug. 2017
The trial for a relative of two people recently convicted in a double homicide and kidnapping has been postponed.

— ruth ann krause, Post-Tribune, "Gary man's trial in double murder postponed," 21 Aug. 2017
The episode in Charlottesville, and Ivanka’s public condemnation, seemed to renew a tension between Trump’s alt-right base, some of whom espouse neo-Nazi views, and his Jewish relatives.

— emily jane fox, The Hive, "Jared and Ivanka Aren’t Pushing Bannon Out—Yet," 15 Aug. 2017
All the books are bought, friends, and relatives consulted, appointments kept strictly, and every belch and burp attended to.

— charlotte andersen, Redbook, "Is The Middle Child Syndrome a Myth or Do Parents Need To Take It Seriously?," 7 Aug. 2017
The legislation would mark a major shift in U.S immigration laws, which over the past half century have permitted a growing number of immigrants to come to the country to work or join relatives already living here legally.

— charles p. pierce, Esquire, "An Important Update on the IKEA Assembly Disaster Known as Trump's Cabinet," 2 Aug. 2017
Not much is known about the event, but guests reportedly included several of the bride's relatives, including Rory Kennedy, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., and Cheryl Hines.

— caroline hallemann, Town & Country, "Robert F. Kennedy's Granddaughter Got Married Last Weekend in Cape Cod," 1 Aug. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'relative.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of relative

14th century

relative Synonyms

Synonyms

cousin, kin, kinsman, relation

Antonyms

nonrelative

Related Words

in-law; kissing cousin; kinswoman; blood, clan, family, folk, house, kindred, kinfolk (or kinfolks), kinsfolk, line, lineage, people, race, stock, tribe

Other Genetics Terms

chimera, hermaphrodite, plasticity

relative

adjective

Definition of relative

1 :introducing a subordinate clause qualifying an expressed or implied antecedent

a relative pronoun

; also :introduced by such a connective

a relative clause

2 :relevant, pertinent

matters relative to world peace

3 :not absolute or independent :comparative

the relative isolation of life in the country

4 :having the same key signature —used of major and minor keys and scales

5 :expressed as the ratio of the specified quantity (such as an error in measuring) to the total magnitude (such as the value of a measured quantity) or to the mean of all the quantities involved

See relative defined for English-language learners

Examples of relative in a Sentence

the relative value of two houses
the relative positions of the islands
We discussed the relative merits of each school.
“Who,” “whom,” “whose,” “which,” and “that” are all relative pronouns.
The phrase “that won” in “the book that won” is a relative clause.

Recent Examples of relative from the Web

She was shot in her car while driving a younger relative home.

— paula rogo, Essence.com, "Jamahri Sydnor Was Killed 10 Days Before Heading To College. Now Her Organs Are Saving Lives.," 24 Aug. 2017
The Forgotten September 12 Jeff Dunham: Relative Disaster (NETFLIX ORIGINAL) September 13 Offspring: Season 7 Ghost of the Mountains September 14 Disney's Pocahontas September 15 American Vandal: Season 1 (NETFLIX ORIGINAL)

— harper's bazaar staff, Harper's BAZAAR, "The Movies & TV Shows Coming To (and Leaving) Netflix in September," 23 Aug. 2017
The unit consists of only a small population of the detention center, relative to both inmate numbers and the high percentage with substance abuse issues.

— erika butler, The Aegis, "Harford jail unit aids inmates serious about recovery from addiction," 7 Aug. 2017
Even periods of relative peace have not been especially peaceful.

— The Economist, "Hissing cousinsWhy India and Pakistan hate each other," 22 July 2017
Many generations of monkeying around ensued, aided by the relative lack of natural predators (other than alligators, which often eat young, naïve primates on the riverbanks).

— tamara lush, chicagotribune.com, "Monkey troupe vexes Florida park, goes viral on social media," 11 July 2017
Given Putin’s relative youth, a second date may not be coming for a while.

— alexander nazaryan, MSNBC Newsweek, "Why Russia Still Loves Josef Stalin, One of the 20th Century's Most Brutal Despots," 7 July 2017
Shavon was kidnapped from a relative’s residence in Lancaster about 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, and the Texas Department of Public Safety issued an Amber Alert.

— domingo ramirez jr. and robert cadwallader, star-telegram, "Missing Lancaster teen, man found dead in Dallas residence," 2 July 2017
Certainly, although that era is remembered as a time of relative bipartisan cordiality, there were also major moments of social friction, even during periods when Washington was considered more genteel.

— katie glueck, Town & Country, "Can Bipartisan Friendships Withstand the Age of Trump?," 29 June 2017

First Known Use of relative

15th century

relative Synonyms

Synonyms

almost, approximate, near, comparative

Antonyms

absolute, complete, downright, out-and-out, outright, perfect, pure, unqualified

Related Words

alike, comparable, similar; equal, equivalent

Near Antonyms

genuine, real, true

RELATIVE Defined for English Language Learners

relative

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noun

Definition of relative for English Language Learners

: a member of your family
: something that belongs to the same group as something else because of shared characteristics, qualities, etc.

relative

adjective

Definition of relative for English Language Learners

: compared to someone or something else or to each other
: seeming to be something when compared with others
grammar : referring to a noun, a part of a sentence, or a sentence that was used earlier

RELATIVE Defined for Kids

relative

play

noun rel·a·tive \ ˈre-lə-tiv \

Definition of relative for Students

:a person connected with another by ancestry or marriage

relative

adjective

Definition of relative for Students

1 :existing in comparison to something else

What is the relative value of the two houses?

2 :relevant

Please ask questions relative to the topic.

—

relatively

adverb

It's been a relatively dry year.

Law Dictionary

relative

adjective rel·a·tive

legal Definition of relative

1 :not absolute

2 in the civil law of Louisiana :having or allowing some legal effect

a relative impediment

a relative simulation

— see also relative nullity at nullity

—

relatively

adverb

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Other Genetics Terms

relative

Definition of relative

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relative Synonyms

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RELATIVE Defined for English Language Learners

relative

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relative

Definition of relative for English Language Learners

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relative

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relative

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relative

legal Definition of relative

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