relevance
relevance — noun
1. a measure of how directly something connects to the subject people are discussin
a measure of how directly something connects to the subject people are discussing or dealing with
Emre questioned the relevance of the old data to the current research project.
relevance of [something] to [something]
The relevance of her argument became clear when the committee reviewed all the evidence.
Many students wonder about the relevance of history lessons in a world driven by technology.
Sade could not see the relevance of the speaker's story to the meeting's main topic.
The judge ruled that the witness's testimony had no relevance to the case being tried.
- connection
more general; 'relevance' adds the idea of importance or usefulness to the topic
- pertinence
more formal; focuses on appropriateness to the subject rather than general connection
- applicability
emphasises practical fit, often used in academic or professional contexts
- irrelevance
the direct opposite; when something has no bearing on the matter
文法句型
the relevance of [something] to [something]
[something] has/have relevance to [something]
用法筆記
Commonly followed by the preposition 'to' to specify what something is connected to. The opposite form is 'irrelevance'.
常見錯誤
2. the quality of being meaningful or helpful in people's everyday lives and real-w
the quality of being meaningful or helpful in people's everyday lives and real-world situations
Felipe wondered whether his philosophy degree would have any relevance in the job market.
have any relevance in [context]
Good teachers help students see the everyday relevance of science through simple experiments.
everyday relevance of [subject]
The relevance of the safety training became clear when the team faced a real emergency.
Léa feels that her volunteer work gives her a sense of personal relevance to the community.
Many young people question the relevance of traditional career paths in today's economy.
- usefulness
more straightforward; 'relevance' adds the idea that something fits the situation or time
- value
broader; can refer to monetary or moral worth, whereas 'relevance' is about meaningfulness in context
- significance
can overlap, but 'significance' often implies greater weight or importance
- uselessness
when something has no practical application at all
- meaninglessness
when something lacks personal or social significance
文法句型
[something] has/have [adjective] relevance
[adjective] relevance of [something]
用法筆記
This sense is often modified by adjectives like 'practical', 'personal', 'social', or 'lasting' to specify the type of value. Distinguish from sense 1 (CONNECTION TO TOPIC), which focuses on relation to a subject rather than real-world usefulness.