Relative

/ˈrɛlətɪv/

Meaning & Definition

noun

A person connected by blood or marriage.

We invited all our relatives to the family reunion.

A word or phrase that relates to another in some way.

In the sentence, 'She is taller than her relative,' the word 'relative' describes a comparison.

adjective

Considered in relation or in proportion to something else.

The relative speed of the two cars affected their likelihood of collision.

Not absolute; observed in relation to other factors.

The relative humidity in the room was higher than outside.

From Latin 'relativus', from 'referre' meaning 'to relate'.

relative term

A term whose meaning is dependent on the context or comparison.

relative to

In relation to; concerning.

a relative measure

A measure that is considered in relation to another.

next of kin

A person's closest living relative.

relative clause

A clause that modifies a noun and contains a relative pronoun.

relativity

The concept that physical laws are the same for all observers.

A relative that you don't know well.

I met some relatives at the family reunion who I had never seen before.

Used to refer to family members in a casual or humorous way.

My uncle's story was so wild, I thought he was my crazy relative.