Relatable

/rɪˈleɪtəbəl/

adjectiveBeginner🔥Very CommonLiterature
1 meaning3 questions

Definitions

1

Easy to understand or sympathize with; capable of establishing a connection.

/rɪˈleɪtəbəl/

adjectivepositiveBeginner
Literature

Capable of being understood or sympathized with; connected to someone's feelings or experiences.

The movie was relatable because the main character faced similar challenges as many viewers.

💡 Simply: It's like when you see a movie character or read a story and you think, "Wow, I totally get that!" It means the situation or character feels similar to your own life or emotions.

👶 For kids: If something is relatable, it means you understand it because it's like you or your life!

More Examples

2

Her blog posts about overcoming anxiety were incredibly relatable for people struggling with mental health.

3

The comedian's jokes were so relatable; everyone in the audience laughed.

How It's Used

Everyday Conversation

"Her struggles with balancing work and family were very relatable."

Literature & Art

"The author created characters that were flawed and relatable, making the novel deeply moving."

Marketing

"Advertisements are often designed to be relatable to the target audience's lifestyle."

Synonyms & Antonyms

From relate + -able. "Relate" comes from Latin *relatus*, past participle of *referre* (to bring back, relate). The suffix "-able" indicates capability or suitability.

The word 'relatable' saw increased usage in the late 20th and early 21st centuries, particularly with the rise of social media and the focus on shared experiences and personal narratives.

Memory tip

Think of someone you can easily *relate* to, someone whose experiences resonate with yours.

Word Origin

LanguageLatin
Original meaning

"related, brought back (relating to bringing back information, relating to a connection)"

highly relatableeasily relatablevery relatablerelatable experiencerelatable content

Common misspellings

reletablerelaitable

Usage

60%Spoken
40%Written