C1 noun Neutral

relevance

/ˈrɛləvəns/

The state or quality of being closely connected, appropriate, or significant to the matter at hand. In communication and logic, it refers to how well a piece of information supports a specific topic or argument.

Examples

3 of 5
1

I struggle to see the relevance of his childhood stories to our current project.

I struggle to see the relevance of his childhood stories to our current project.

2

The court ruled that the evidence was of no relevance to the defendant's guilt.

The court ruled that the evidence was of no relevance to the defendant's guilt.

3

Why are you bringing that up? It has zero relevance to what we're doing!

Why are you bringing that up? It has zero relevance to what we're doing!

Word Family

Noun
relevance
Adverb
relevantly
Adjective
relevant
Related
irrelevance
💡

Memory Tip

Think of the word 'Related'. If information has relevance, it is 'Related' to the 'Evidence' (Rel-evance).

Quick Quiz

The professor questioned the ____ of the data to the overall hypothesis.

Correct!

The correct answer is: relevance

Examples

1

I struggle to see the relevance of his childhood stories to our current project.

everyday

I struggle to see the relevance of his childhood stories to our current project.

2

The court ruled that the evidence was of no relevance to the defendant's guilt.

formal

The court ruled that the evidence was of no relevance to the defendant's guilt.

3

Why are you bringing that up? It has zero relevance to what we're doing!

informal

Why are you bringing that up? It has zero relevance to what we're doing!

4

The study explores the relevance of traditional teaching methods in the modern digital age.

academic

The study explores the relevance of traditional teaching methods in the modern digital age.

5

Companies must innovate constantly to maintain their market relevance.

business

Companies must innovate constantly to maintain their market relevance.

Word Family

Noun
relevance
Adverb
relevantly
Adjective
relevant
Related
irrelevance

Common Collocations

lose relevance lose relevance
establish relevance establish relevance
direct relevance direct relevance
clinical relevance clinical relevance
maintain relevance maintain relevance

Common Phrases

of direct relevance to

of direct relevance to

bear relevance to

bear relevance to

lack relevance

lack relevance

Often Confused With

relevance vs relativeness

Relativeness refers to the quality of being comparative or dependent on something else, whereas relevance refers to being connected or important to a topic.

relevance vs reliability

Reliability refers to the consistency or trustworthiness of information, not its topical connection.

📝

Usage Notes

The word is almost always followed by the preposition 'to' when indicating what the information is connected to. It is highly valued in academic writing to justify why a source or data point is being used.

⚠️

Common Mistakes

Learners sometimes use the word 'relevant' (adjective) when they need the noun form 'relevance', or they forget the 'to' preposition (e.g., saying 'relevance for' instead of 'relevance to').

💡

Memory Tip

Think of the word 'Related'. If information has relevance, it is 'Related' to the 'Evidence' (Rel-evance).

📖

Word Origin

Derived from the Medieval Latin 'relevantia', from the Latin verb 'relevare', which literally means 'to raise up' or 'to assist'.

Grammar Patterns

Uncountable noun Typically followed by 'to + noun phrase' Can be used with the verb 'bear' or 'have'
🌍

Cultural Context

In modern technology, 'relevance' is a key term in computer science and SEO, referring to how well a search result matches a user's query.

Quick Quiz

The professor questioned the ____ of the data to the overall hypothesis.

Correct!

The correct answer is: relevance

Related Words

underpendsion

C1

The foundational support, basis, or underlying framework that provides stability and strength to a structure, theory, or organization. It refers to the core principles or physical elements that justify and hold up a larger system.

uniprivacy

C1

A conceptual term referring to a single, unified standard or framework of privacy protections applied consistently across different platforms, jurisdictions, or systems. It describes the state of having one streamlined set of data rights and security measures rather than fragmented or overlapping policies.

demarery

C1

A formal legal objection that admits the facts of an opponent's argument but denies that they are sufficient to justify a legal claim. It effectively argues that even if everything the opposing party says is true, there is no legal basis for a lawsuit.

translably

C1

The noun translably refers to the quality or degree to which a piece of text, an idea, or an expression can be effectively rendered into another language while preserving its original essence. It is a specialized linguistic term used to assess the feasibility of achieving semantic and cultural equivalence in translation tasks.

obfachood

C1

The state or condition of being deliberately obscure, hidden, or difficult to understand, particularly within a formal or technical system. It refers to the quality of a subject that has been rendered complex to prevent easy access or comprehension.

misdictile

C1

To transcribe or record spoken words incorrectly, especially in a manner that fundamentally alters the intended meaning or technical specifications of the message. It refers specifically to the failure of accuracy during the transition from auditory input to written or repeated output.

obgeotude

C1

The state or quality of being excessively preoccupied with physical location or geographical boundaries. It often refers to a mindset or policy that stubbornly prioritizes local physical presence over digital or global connectivity.

monotegate

C1

To consolidate multiple layers, systems, or categories into a single, unified structure. It is often used in technical or organizational contexts to describe the process of streamlining complex elements for the sake of efficiency or standardization.

autojecthood

C1

To transition a system, process, or entity into a state where it automatically identifies and rejects incompatible or non-compliant elements. It refers to the implementation of autonomous exclusion protocols to maintain system purity or efficiency.

contragratence

C1

A state or quality of being intentionally contrary or ungrateful, specifically characterized by a willful refusal to express gratitude or conform to expected social harmony. In academic or test-specific contexts, it often refers to a behavioral pattern of resisting positive social exchange.

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