# relative

> English word · Adjective · IPA /ˈɹɛl.ə.tɪv/ · frequency rank #3,129

## Definitions
1. Connected to or depending on something else; comparative.
2. Expressed in relation to another item, rather than in complete form.
3. Depending on an antecedent; comparative.
4. Having the same key but differing in being major or minor.
5. Relevant; pertinent; related.
6. Capable to be changed by other beings or circumstance; conditional.

## Etymology
From Middle French relatif, from Late Latin relātīvus, from Latin relātus, perfect passive participle of referō (“to carry back, to ascribe”), from re- (“again”) + ferō (“to bear or carry”). By surface analysis, relate + -ive.

## Easily confused with
- **relive** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/relative-vs-relive)
- **relatives** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/relative-vs-relatives)
- **relatively** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/relative-vs-relatively)
- **relate** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/relate-vs-relative)
- **relation** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/relation-vs-relative)
- **relating** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/relating-vs-relative)
- **reactive** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/reactive-vs-relative)

## Common misspellings (11)
`erlative`, `realtive`, `relaitve`, `relatiev`, `relativve`, `relattive`, `relatvie`, `rellative`, `reltaive`, `rleative`, `rrelative`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/relative