relevance
C1formal/academic
Definition
Meaning
The quality of being closely connected or appropriate to the matter at hand.
In extended use, it can refer to the significance or applicability of something in specific contexts, such as information retrieval where it measures how well a document matches a query, or in broader societal discussions about contemporary importance.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Relevance often implies a subjective judgment of pertinence based on context. It is closely related to 'relevancy', which is a less common variant. The term can be dynamic, as something may gain or lose relevance over time.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. Spelling is consistent, though 'relevancy' is occasionally used in both variants but is generally disfavored in formal writing.
Connotations
Similar connotations of connectedness and appropriateness in both British and American English.
Frequency
Equally common in both varieties, with high frequency in academic, business, and technical contexts.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
relevance to [noun phrase]relevance for [noun phrase]relevance in [context]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “of no relevance”
- “lose its relevance”
- “bear relevance to”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
In business, relevance often describes how products, services, or strategies align with market demands and consumer needs.
Academic
In academic contexts, relevance is key to validating research questions, arguments, and citations within scholarly discourse.
Everyday
In everyday conversation, relevance is used to assess whether a comment or topic is related to the current discussion.
Technical
In technical fields like information science, relevance quantifies the match between search results and user queries.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- We must ensure to make the data relevant to the current analysis.
American English
- It's crucial to establish relevance for the project's goals.
adverb
British English
- She contributed relevantly to the debate on climate policy.
American English
- He spoke relevantly about the economic implications.
adjective
British English
- The relevant authorities were notified about the incident.
American English
- Please include relevant details in your report.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- This book has no relevance to my life.
- The movie's relevance to children is clear.
- We need to check the relevance of these facts to our essay.
- His comment had little relevance to the discussion.
- The relevance of social media in modern marketing cannot be overstated.
- Critics debate the relevance of traditional teaching methods today.
- Scholars often examine the relevance of philosophical concepts to contemporary ethics.
- The relevance of the dataset was rigorously assessed before publication.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'relevance' as 'relate once' – it helps you remember how things relate to each other in a given situation.
Conceptual Metaphor
Relevance is a bridge connecting ideas to context.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid translating 'relevance' solely as 'актуальность' (timeliness/current interest), as it may overlook the aspect of pertinence; consider 'уместность' or 'значимость' based on context.
- Confusing 'relevance' with 'importance' ('важность') without considering contextual connection.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'relevancy' in formal writing instead of 'relevance'.
- Incorrect preposition use, e.g., 'relevance of' when 'relevance to' is intended.
- Overusing 'relevance' in contexts where 'importance' or 'significance' is more appropriate.
Practice
Quiz
What is the core aspect of 'relevance'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Relevance refers to how closely something is connected to a specific context or topic, while importance denotes general significance or value. Something can be important but not relevant to a particular situation.
Yes, 'relevancy' is a valid but less common variant. However, 'relevance' is generally preferred in formal and academic writing.
Use it with prepositions like 'to' or 'for', e.g., 'The relevance of this evidence to the case is clear,' or 'This has great relevance for our decision.'
Yes, relevance is often context-dependent and dynamic. For example, technological advancements can make certain skills lose relevance, while others gain it.
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Critical Thinking
C1 · 49 words · Vocabulary for structured logical reasoning and analysis.
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