relative Definition

relative
noun

1. A person who is related to someone else by birth or marriage.

Thesaurus: relation, kin, family member, blood relation, next of kin, sibling, kinsman, kinswoman.

adj

1. Compared with something else; comparative.

Example: the relative speeds of a car and train
2. Existing only in relation to something else.

Example: ‘hot' and ‘cold' are relative terms
Thesaurus: related, associated, connected, dependent, contingent, interrelated, corresponding, reciprocal.
3. In proportion to it; proportional.

Example: salary relative to experience
Form: relative to something (chiefly)
4. Relevant.

Example: information relative to the problem
Thesaurus: relevant, applicable, germane, pertinent, apropos.
5a. grammar.
Said of a pronoun or adjective: referring to someone or something that has already been named and attaching a subordinate clause to it, eg who in the children who are playing, although some clauses of this kind can have the relative word omitted, eg playing in the park is a relative clause in the children playing in the park;
5b. grammar.
Said of a clause or phrase: attached to a preceding word, phrase, etc by a relative word such as which and who or whose in the man whose cat was lost. See also antecedent Compare absolute (adj 6a).
6. music.
Said of major and minor keys: having the same key signature.

Derivative: relatively
adverb

In relation or comparison to something else
Thesaurus: rather, somewhat, comparatively, quite, fairly.

Derivative: relativeness
noun

Derivative: relativity

See separate entry.

Etymology: 16c: from Latin relativus referring.