Definition Definition

relative - Meaning and Examples

Meaning of 'relative' (Webster Dictionary)

1 . Relative [ a.]
- Having relation or reference; referring; respecting; standing in connection; pertaining; as, arguments not relative to the subject.
- Arising from relation; resulting from connection with, or reference to, something else; not absolute.
- Indicating or expressing relation; refering to an antecedent; as, a relative pronoun.
- Characterizing or pertaining to chords and keys, which, by reason of the identify of some of their tones, admit of a natural transition from one to the other.
2 . Relative [ n.]
- One who, or that which, relates to, or is considered in its relation to, something else; a relative object or term; one of two object or term; one of two objects directly connected by any relation.
- A person connected by blood or affinity; strictly, one allied by blood; a relation; a kinsman or kinswoman.
- A relative pronoun; a word which relates to, or represents, another word or phrase, called its antecedent; as, the relatives "who", "which", "that".

Meaning of 'relative' (Princeton's WordNet)

1 . relative [ n]
Meaning (1):
- a person related by blood or marriage
Example in sentence:
  • he has distant relations back in New Jersey;
  • police are searching for relatives of the deceased
2 . relative [ a]
Meaning (2):
- estimated by comparison; not absolute or complete
Example in sentence:
  • a relative stranger
3 . relative [ s]
Meaning (3):
- properly related in size or degree or other measurable characteristics; usually followed by `to'
Example in sentence:
  • earnings relative to production;
  • the punishment ought to be proportional to the crime