adjective

relevant

REL-uh-vunt/ˈreləvənt/

Closely connected to the matter at hand.

The matching wrench is relevant to the mechanic’s repair.

A mechanic selects the matching bicycle wrench beside a loose wheel nut, other irrelevant kitchen implements set aside; Latina woman.

Etymology

reLatinperhaps adds emphasis

+levLatinlift up, lighten

+antLatinpresent participle

With re- perhaps adding emphasis, the lifting or lightening root came to mean “help or assist.” Through senses of “helpful” and “depending upon,” relevant reached its meaning of being applicable to the matter at hand.

In context

Live Law8:46

whatever is relevant is receivable as evidence so a fact cannot be relevant in isolation it is relevant only when it is is logically connect or when it is connected to another fact

[Evidence Act] Fact, Relevant Fact And Fact In Issue - By Justice Abraham Mathew, Former Judge, High

More examples

Only relevant experience belongs in this section.
Her comment was directly relevant to the question.
They found no relevant records in the archive.

Forms

relevant

relevance noun — connection to the issue

Similar words

pertinent: Directly connected to the issue.
applicable: Suitable for use in the situation.