relative

1 of 2

noun

rel·​a·​tive ˈre-lə-tiv 

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

relative

2 of 2

adjective

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

Synonyms

Noun

• cousin
• relation

Adjective

• comparative
• comparable
• almost

Examples of relative in a Sentence

Noun

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.

Adjective

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 on the Web

Noun

Knowing the family history for aneurysms is important, Arthur added, as it’s recommended to get a screening exam, or MRI, if two close relatives have had them. —Angelica Stabile, FOXNews.com, 25 Oct. 2025

Several of our relatives had been detained for months. —Mosab Abu Toha, New Yorker, 24 Oct. 2025

Adjective

Perhaps the initial expectations that people had for them were a bit too lofty, given the relative weaknesses of their roster. —Robert Marvi, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Oct. 2025

But the mob’s relative lack of visibility does not mean it’s gone away. —Preston Fore, Fortune, 25 Oct. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing relative

• blood relative
• it's all relative
• relative humidity
• relative to
• relative wind

Kids Definition

relative

1 of 2 noun

rel·​a·​tive ˈrel-ət-iv 

1

: a word referring grammatically to one that comes before it

2

: a person connected with another by blood or marriage

relative

2 of 2 adjective

1

a

: introducing a subordinate clause that qualifies an expressed or implied antecedent

relative pronoun

b

: introduced by a word having such an antecedent

relative clause

2

: relevant, pertinent

questions relative to the topic

3

: existing in comparison to something else

the relative value of two houses

4

: having the same key signature

—used of major and minor keys and scales

relativeness noun

Legal Definition

relative

adjective

rel·​a·​tive

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