relativize: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1-C2Formal academic, philosophical, social science, technical linguistic.
Quick answer
What does “relativize” mean?
To view or make something relative rather than absolute.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To view or make something relative rather than absolute; to treat something as dependent on a particular context, perspective, or framework.
To interpret or present facts, values, truths, or beliefs as being contingent upon cultural, historical, or personal circumstances, thereby denying them universal or absolute status. In linguistics, to apply the syntactic process of relativization to a clause.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in core meaning or frequency. The spelling 'relativise' is the standard British form, while 'relativize' is standard American.
Connotations
Primarily carries an academic or intellectual connotation in both varieties. Can have a negative connotation when used to criticize perceived moral or cultural nihilism.
Frequency
Low-frequency in general discourse but established in academic registers. Slightly more frequent in American academic writing according to corpus data.
Grammar
How to Use “relativize” in a Sentence
[Subject] relativizes [Object] (e.g., The theory relativizes truth).[Subject] relativizes [Object] as [Complement] (e.g., She relativized his authority as merely traditional).Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “relativize” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- Some historians relativise the importance of individual leaders, focusing instead on broader social forces.
- He argued we should not relativise fundamental human rights.
- The study aimed to relativise the concept of intelligence across cultures.
American English
- Critics accuse the movement of seeking to relativize all ethical judgments.
- Her theory effectively relativizes the authority of the text.
- We must be careful not to relativize the horrors of the war.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Might appear in discussions about ethical standards or cross-cultural management: 'We must avoid relativising our core compliance standards for local markets.'
Academic
Common in philosophy, anthropology, sociology, and cultural studies: 'Postmodern thought seeks to relativize grand historical narratives.'
Everyday
Very rare. Would mark the speaker as highly educated or debating abstract concepts.
Technical
In formal linguistics: 'The grammar allows you to relativize the object of the preposition.'
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “relativize”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “relativize”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “relativize”
- Using 'relativize' to mean 'to relate' or 'to correlate'.
- Confusing 'relativize' with 'relocate'.
- Misspelling: *realitivize, *relavitize.
- Using it in informal contexts where 'put into perspective' would be more natural.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Not inherently. It is a descriptive term in academia. However, it is often used in critical contexts where the act of making things relative is seen as undermining important standards or truths (e.g., 'relativizing evil').
'Contextualize' is more neutral, meaning to place something in its proper context for better understanding. 'Relativize' is stronger and more philosophical, implying that the context fundamentally alters the nature, validity, or truth of the thing itself.
Yes: 'relativization' (also 'relativisation'). It refers to the process or result of making something relative, used in both general and linguistic contexts.
Yes, particularly in promoting tolerance or understanding. For example: 'Relativizing our own cultural assumptions is a crucial step towards genuine intercultural dialogue.'
To view or make something relative rather than absolute.
Relativize is usually formal academic, philosophical, social science, technical linguistic. in register.
Relativize: in British English it is pronounced /ˈrel.ə.tɪ.vaɪz/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈrel.ə.t̬ə.vaɪz/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'relative' (not absolute) + '-ize' (to make). To relativize is to 'make relative'.
Conceptual Metaphor
TRUTH IS AN ABSOLUTE FRAME > RELATIVIZING IS REMOVING THE FRAME. MORALITY IS A FIXED SCALE > RELATIVIZING IS BENDING THE SCALE.
Practice
Quiz
In which field is the technical use of 'relativize' most specific?