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relevant
/ˈɹɛləvənt/
The word describes a direct, meaningful link between two things. It is the quality of "mattering" in a specific context. If information is relevant, it serves a purpose in solving a problem or making a decision; if it is irrelevant, it is noise.
In professional and legal settings, it carries a weight of necessity and precision. It suggests that something isn't just related by chance, but is specifically applicable to the goal at hand.
Unlike "related," which can be broad or vague, "relevant" implies utility. For example, a story about a dog might be related to a conversation about pets, but it is only relevant if you are trying to decide which breed to buy.
💬Casual Conversation
Half the slides you sent aren't even relevant. Please sort it out.
My bad. I was just winging it tbh.
Meanings
Closely connected or appropriate to the matter at hand.
Please provide all relevant documents for the insurance claim.
Significant or applicable to a particular subject, period, or person.
His experience in marketing is highly relevant to this new role.
Etymology
Derived from the Middle French word relevant, which is the present participle of relever, meaning to raise up or lift. This stems from the Latin relevare, a combination of re- meaning again and levare meaning to lighten or lift. Originally, the term referred to the act of bringing a point back up for consideration in a legal or formal argument, eventually evolving into its modern sense of being applicable or pertinent to a specific topic.