Relative
/ˈrelətɪv/
Definitions
3 meaningsA person connected to another by blood or marriage.
/ˈrelətɪv/
A member of your family.
She spent the holidays with her relatives.
💡 Simply: Relatives are your family! It could be your mom, dad, sister, brother, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. They're the folks you share a family tree with! Like, 'I'm going to see my relatives at the family reunion!'
👶 For kids: A relative is a person in your family, like your mom, dad, or grandma.
More Examples
His close relatives were all in attendance at the wedding.
We sent flowers to the deceased's relatives.
How It's Used
"I'm visiting my relatives this weekend."
"The court will notify all relatives of the deceased."
Considered in relation or proportion to something else; not absolute or independent.
/ˈrelətɪv/
Considered in relation or proportion to something else.
The price of the house seemed relative to the size and location.
💡 Simply: It means things aren't just one way. They're compared to something else. Like, 'The weather is warm, but it's *relative* to how cold it was last week!' It depends on the point of view!
👶 For kids: When something is relative, it means it depends on something else. Like, 'The cake is big relative to the cookies!'
More Examples
Happiness is a relative concept, varying from person to person.
The economy is in a relative downturn.
How It's Used
"The relative speed of the two vehicles was calculated."
"The cost of living is relative to your income."
Connected by blood or marriage; a relative.
/ˈrelətɪv/
Connected by blood or marriage.
She decided to invite some of her relatives to the event.
💡 Simply: This is just a fancy way of saying someone in your family. Like, 'I'm going to visit my relative and eat turkey.'
👶 For kids: A relative means someone in your family like a cousin or an aunt.
More Examples
He took care of his sick relative.
She knew a relative that worked at the company
How It's Used
"She has several relative in the city."
Synonyms
Kin
Relation
Comparative
Corresponding
Dependent
Proportional
Related
Idioms & expressions
relative humidity
The amount of water vapor present in air expressed as a percentage of the amount needed for saturation at the same temperature.
"The meteorologist announced that the relative humidity would be high today."
relative clauses
A clause introduced by a relative pronoun (such as who, which, or that) that modifies a noun or pronoun.
"She wrote a complex sentence with many relative clauses."
From Latin *relātīvus* ('relating, referring'), derived from *referre* ('to carry back, relate'). The meaning evolved to encompass family connections and comparative degrees.
The term 'relative' has been used since the late 14th century, initially referring to a person related to another by blood or marriage. Its broader application to denote a relationship or comparison developed over time.
Memory tip
Think of *relation* or *related*. Relatives are the people you're *related* to.