relevance

noun

rel·​e·​vance ˈre-lə-vən(t)s 

1

a

: relation to the matter at hand

b

: practical and especially social applicability : pertinence

giving relevance to college courses

2

: the ability (as of an information retrieval system) to retrieve material that satisfies the needs of the user

Synonyms of relevance

• relevancy

Examples of relevance in a Sentence

I appreciate that you did the dishes tonight, but that has no relevance to my enforcement of the punishment you got earlier this week.

Recent Examples on the Web

Structured relevance is another key skill. —John Hall, Forbes.com, 25 Jan. 2026

For him, debates about what should be on a syllabus reflected an anxiety that both literature and those who taught it were losing their relevance. —Colton Valentine, New Yorker, 24 Jan. 2026

Since winning World Series in 1987 and 1991, the Twins have really only flirted with postseason relevance. —John Shipley, Twin Cities, 23 Jan. 2026

According to Yuzee, the foundation of a successful coaching business is not breadth of knowledge, but relevance. —Jason Phillips, USA Today, 22 Jan. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1787, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for relevance

• irrelevance

Kids Definition

relevance

noun

rel·​e·​vance ˈrel-ə-vən(t)s 

: relation to the matter at hand : pertinence

Legal Definition

relevance

noun

rel·​e·​vance ˈre-lə-vəns 

: the quality or state of being relevant : relation to the matter at hand

ruled on the relevance of the testimony

relevance in discovery has been broadly interpreted