relative
A relative is a person who is part of your family. It describes anyone you are connected to by blood or marriage, such as a cousin, aunt, or grandparent.
Examples
3 of 5I am going to visit a relative in the hospital today.
I am going to visit a relative in the hospital today.
Please write the name of your closest living relative on this form.
Please write the name of your closest living relative on this form.
A bunch of my relatives are coming over for dinner.
A bunch of my relatives are coming over for dinner.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Word Family
Memory Tip
Remember: Relatives are people you are RELATED to on your family tree.
Quick Quiz
My mother's sister is my favorite ________.
Correct!
The correct answer is: relative
Examples
I am going to visit a relative in the hospital today.
everydayI am going to visit a relative in the hospital today.
Please write the name of your closest living relative on this form.
formalPlease write the name of your closest living relative on this form.
A bunch of my relatives are coming over for dinner.
informalA bunch of my relatives are coming over for dinner.
The researchers interviewed each relative to understand the family history.
academicThe researchers interviewed each relative to understand the family history.
The company allows leave for employees to care for an ill relative.
businessThe company allows leave for employees to care for an ill relative.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Word Family
Common Collocations
Common Phrases
Next of kin
Next of kin (closest living relative)
Relative to
Relative to (compared to)
All my relatives
All my relatives
Often Confused With
In many languages, 'parent' sounds like 'relative', but in English, 'parents' only means mother and father.
A 'relative' is the person; a 'relation' can be the person or the connection between people.
Usage Notes
Use 'relative' when you want to be more general than 'brother' or 'sister'. It is very common on official documents and forms.
Common Mistakes
Learners often say 'my parents' when they mean 'my relatives' because of false friends in languages like Spanish (parientes) or French (parents).
Memory Tip
Remember: Relatives are people you are RELATED to on your family tree.
Word Origin
From the Latin 'relativus', meaning 'having reference or relation to something'.
Grammar Patterns
Cultural Context
In English-speaking cultures, 'relative' often refers to the extended family (cousins, aunts) rather than the immediate household.
Quick Quiz
My mother's sister is my favorite ________.
Correct!
The correct answer is: relative
Related Grammar Rules
Related Phrases
Related Vocabulary
A person from whom one is descended, typically one more remo...
auntThe sister of one's father or mother, or the wife of one's u...
cousinA cousin is the child of your aunt or uncle. It is a family...
siblingA sibling is a brother or a sister. It is a general word use...
grandparentA grandparent is the parent of one's father or mother. It is...
uncleAn uncle is the brother of one's father or mother, or the hu...
More Family words
father
A1A father is a male parent of a child. This term describes both the biological relationship and the social role of a man who raises and cares for his children.
dad
A1An informal and affectionate name for a father, used primarily by children or within a family context. It refers to a male parent who provides care and support for his offspring.
mother
A1A female parent who has given birth to or raised a child. It is also used more broadly to describe a woman who provides care, protection, and support to another person.
son
A1A male child or man in relation to his parents. It is a fundamental kinship term used to describe a direct male descendant in a family.
child
A1A young human being below the age of puberty or the legal age of majority. It can also refer to a son or daughter of any age in relation to their parents.
sister
A1A sister is a girl or woman who shares the same parents as another person. It can also refer to a woman who shares one parent or someone who is very close like a family member.
twin
A1A twin is one of two children born at the same time to the same mother. It can also refer to one of two things that are exactly the same or very similar.
baby
A1A baby is a very young human being, typically from birth until they start to walk. It is a general term for an infant who requires complete care and attention from adults.
toddler
A1A young child who is just beginning to walk, typically between the ages of one and three. This term describes the developmental stage between infancy and the start of preschool.
adult
A1A person who is fully grown and developed, typically someone who is 18 years of age or older. It is used to distinguish a mature individual from a child or a teenager.
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