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

At Kiko Milano, Mastrogiacomo oversees global communications, social media and media, focusing on expanding the brand’s visibility, strengthening its international positioning and cultural relevance and building connections with consumers worldwide. — Sandra Salibian, Footwear News, 30 July 2026

This subtlety may have legal relevance for grantees planning to sue the administration, said Lauren Adams, a spokesperson for AcademyHealth. — Arthur Allen, Miami Herald, 30 July 2026

The result is more meaningful conversations built on context and relevance rather than volume and scripts. — Cuong Nguyen Cao, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026

Later books draw on diplomatic tension, intelligence fallout, and international instability, using recognizable conditions to give the fiction a sense of relevance without losing its identity as fiction. — Matt Emma, USA Today, 29 July 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