relator: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1-C2 / Very Low FrequencyFormal, Technical (Legal, Computing)
Quick answer
What does “relator” mean?
A person who relates, narrates, or tells a story.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A person who relates, narrates, or tells a story.
A person who brings a relator action or public interest lawsuit on behalf of the government or public, or a person who establishes a relationship between entities in mathematics or computer science.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Both use the legal term 'relator' similarly in common law contexts. The literary/narrator sense is equally archaic in both varieties.
Connotations
The word carries strong legal/technical connotations and is rarely encountered outside specific professional contexts.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in both, slightly more common in American legal writing due to more frequent qui tam litigation.
Grammar
How to Use “relator” in a Sentence
relator (of)relator (in)relator (for the government)Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually unused except in the context of compliance, whistleblowing, and lawsuits under statutes like the False Claims Act.
Academic
Used in legal scholarship, history (archaic sense), and technical computer science/mathematics papers.
Everyday
Almost never used.
Technical
Core term in US whistleblower law; specific term in relational algebra (computer science) and some mathematical logic.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “relator”
Strong
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “relator”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “relator”
- Confusing with 'relay-er' or 'related'. Mispronouncing /'riː.leɪ.tə(r)/. Using in everyday contexts where 'storyteller' or 'narrator' is intended.
- Assuming it is a common synonym for 'narrator'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Historically, yes, but this meaning is now archaic. The dominant modern use is as a technical legal term.
A private person (whistleblower) who brings a lawsuit on behalf of the government under a statute that allows them to share in any recovered damages.
It is not recommended. Using 'narrator', 'storyteller', or 'speaker' will be far more readily understood.
It is pronounced /rɪˈleɪ.tə(r)/ (UK) or /rɪˈleɪ.t̬ɚ/ (US), with the stress on the second syllable: re-LAY-ter.
A person who relates, narrates, or tells a story.
Relator is usually formal, technical (legal, computing) in register.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “qui tam relator”
- “on the relation of (in legal case names)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think 'RELATE-or': Someone who RELATES a story to the court, or RELATES two pieces of data.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE LAW IS A STORY (the relator brings the narrative of wrongdoing to the court).
Practice
Quiz
In modern English, the word 'relator' is most frequently encountered in which context?