rel·a·tive
ˈre-lə-tiv 
1
: introducing a subordinate clause qualifying an expressed or implied antecedent
a relative pronoun
also
: introduced by such a connective
a relative clause
3
: not absolute or independent : comparative
the relative isolation of life in the country
4
: having the same key signature
—used of major and minor keys and scales
5
: expressed as the ratio of the specified quantity (such as an error in measuring) to the total magnitude (such as the value of a measured quantity) or to the mean of all the quantities involved
Examples of relative in a Sentence
Noun
At the family reunion, I saw relatives I haven't seen in years.
He inherited a small piece of land from a distant relative.
The donkey is a relative of the horse.
Adjective
the relative value of two houses
the relative positions of the islands
We discussed the relative merits of each school.
“Who,” “whom,” “whose,” “which,” and “that” are all relative pronouns.
The phrase “that won” in “the book that won” is a relative clause.
Recent Examples on the Web
Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 21 Sep. 2025
However, the most common plant types were ferns and their relatives, which likely accounted for 42% of the total plant types.
—Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 19 Sep. 2025
New Atlas, 21 Sep. 2025
The late teacher’s sister-in-law, Marissa Dubon-Ramberg, also remembered her relative in a heartfelt Facebook post.
—Brian Anthony Hernandez, PEOPLE, 21 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for relative
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Noun
Most of them have relatives who are from Nagorno-Karabakh, or, historically, have roots in Nagorno-Karabakh.
—Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 21 Sep. 2025
However, the most common plant types were ferns and their relatives, which likely accounted for 42% of the total plant types.
—Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 19 Sep. 2025
Adjective
Microbial changes were measured in relative abundance (percent of total bacteria), which may shift even if absolute numbers of bacteria don’t.
—New Atlas, 21 Sep. 2025
The late teacher’s sister-in-law, Marissa Dubon-Ramberg, also remembered her relative in a heartfelt Facebook post.
—Brian Anthony Hernandez, PEOPLE, 21 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for relative
Cite this Entry
“Relative.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/relative. Accessed 22 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
relative
1 of 2 noun
rel·a·tive
ˈrel-ət-iv
1
: a word referring grammatically to one that comes before it
2
: a person connected with another by blood or marriage
relative
2 of 2 adjective1
a
: introducing a subordinate clause that qualifies an expressed or implied antecedent
relative pronoun
b
: introduced by a word having such an antecedent
relative clause
3
: existing in comparison to something else
the relative value of two houses
4
: having the same key signature
—used of major and minor keys and scales
relativeness
noun
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