-nt adjective
Etymology: Medieval Latin relevant-, relevans, from Latin, present participle of Latin relevare to raise up, lift up — more at relieve
1. : bearing upon or properly applying to the matter at hand : affording evidence tending to prove or disprove the matters at issue or under discussion : pertinent
began work on the problem by reading all the relevant literature
relevant testimony
2. : correspondent , proportional , commensurate
the human concepts of one inch in length, and one second in time … are purely relevant to human life — A.N.Whitehead
3. Scots law : valid , sufficient
relevant defense
Synonyms:
relevant , germane , material , pertinent , apposite , applicable , apropos can signify, in common, having a relation to or a bearing upon a matter in hand or upon present circumstances. A thing is relevant when it has a connection, especially a logical connection, with a matter under consideration
nor shall any amendment not germane or relevant to the subject matter contained in the bill be received — U.S. Code
what the cartman is saying is relevant to his case — John Hersey
had thoroughly familiarized himself with all the knowledge relevant to his new duties — Benjamin Farrington
germane is interchangeable with relevant but usually adds to it the idea of unquestionable closeness and fitness or appropriateness of relationship as in spirit, tone, or quality
almost every fact — religious, social, political, economic — was, somehow or other, germane to the war or the peace — Katharine F. Gerould
the fierce aversions and the passionate cravings which are germane to the hermit life — H.O.Taylor
A thing is material when it has so close a relationship with a case in hand that it cannot be dispensed with without serious alteration of the case
the motion is supported by an affidavit showing that the evidence is material — B.F.Tucker
information material to the solution of a problem
pertinent is interchangeable with relevant , although it often stresses a more decisive or significant relationship, characterizing what not only bears upon but also contributes materially to the understanding or solution as of a problem or matter in hand
had something pertinent to say about every horse that was brought out — Gerald Beaumont
relatively few studies pertinent to the transplantation of lung tissue have been made — C.A.Hardin & C.F.Kittle
deal in a specific kind of emotional conflict for pertinent dramatic ends — Irving Kolodin
apposite usually applies to what is relevant and germane to the point of felicitousness
apposite quotations from the classics came easily to his pen to grace the pellucid flow of his English — V.L.Parrington
his sermons … are replete with apposite arguments and quotations from the Latin classics in support of the teachings of Christianity — G.C.Sellery
A thing is applicable when it can be brought to bear upon or be used fittingly in reference to a matter in hand
beauty in this broad sense is applicable to widely differing artistic achievements — C.W.H.Johnson
this assumption is not applicable to many economic problems — Robert Dorfman
A thing is apropos when it is opportunely appropriate
once asked him, apropos of his liberal politics … what ideal of society he would approve — George Santayana
she stays glued to her easel, creating futuristic pictures apropos of which the author observes, “She had a moderate talent for painting” — S.J.Perelman