relatively

/ˈɹɛl.ə.tɪv.li/

//ˈɹɛl.ə.tɪv.li// adv

By · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) ·

"relatively" is a 10-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“relatively” has 15 generated spelling variants in the English index at frequency #2,228. The variants make it a useful spelling check.

#2,228
frequency rank, English
3,094
“R” headwords
15
tracked misspellings
3
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed September 3, 2026) - In a relative manner; with reference to environment or competition; contextually or comparatively.

Corpus desk

Index EN-relatively · relatively · English

relatively · rank #2,228 · 15 variants · 3 confusables

  • FREQ-COMMON #2,228
  • LEN-MEGA 10 letters
  • VOW-5 5 vowels
  • CONFUS-LOW 3 pairs
  • VAR-HIGH 15 variants
  • BOOK-MID 3,094
  • PHOTO-FINISH recorded

Nearest frequency peer: recorded (-1 rank slots)

Read with this headword: Spelling guide for this pattern

Desk codes from Wiktionary headword shape, FrequencyWords rank tier, confusable-pair count, generated misspelling depth, letter-cohort book size, and photo-finish peer. Not a difficulty grade.

Rank peers near misspelling magnet “relatively”

Same rarity band: useful when a typo lands on a peer headword

corpus weight

What this shows “relatively” sits among these FrequencyWords peers; misspelling depth is tracked separately in the edit-distance chart.

Source FrequencyWords open word-frequency list As of September 3, 2026

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

How many letter changes separate each confused pair (Levenshtein distance, normalized).

relatively vs relatives
80% similar
relatively vs relativity
80% similar
relatively vs relative
80% similar

Source: PlainSpell confusable corpus (Wiktionary, CC BY-SA).

Key facts for relatively
PropertyValue
Headwordrelatively
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechAdverb
IPA/ˈɹɛl.ə.tɪv.li/
Letters10
Frequency rank#2,228
Misspellings tracked15
Confusable pairs3
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Frequency seat of misspelling magnet “relatively”

This scale runs from the tiny cluster of words that carry ordinary speech (left) to the long tail of words almost nobody reaches for (right).relativelylands here:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Same rarity band neighbours include “recorded” (#2,227), “sector” (#2,229), “perform” (#2,226). Among 3,094 “R” headwords, “relatively” is #2,228. Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

A misspelling magnet

The generator records 15 spelling variants around relatively (IPA /ˈɹɛl.ə.tɪv.li/), anadverb. Corpus frequency is #2,228 among 3,094 “R” headwords. Wiktionary lists 2 senses, so context still picks the gloss.

Our generated misspelling index lists 15 likely wrong-spelling variants for relatively, with forms such as "erlatively", "realtively", and "relaitvely". Each of these forms differs from the correct spelling by one small edit: a doubled letter, a dropped silent letter, or a substituted vowel. It also participates in 3 confusable-pair relationships, "relatives", "relativity", "relative", since the words sound or look close enough that writers reach for the wrong one mid-sentence.

Etymologically, the entry records: From relative + -ly. The correct English form is relatively, spelled R-E-L-A-T-I-V-E-L-Y.

Definition

  1. 1
    In a relative manner; with reference to environment or competition; contextually or comparatively.
  2. 2
    Somewhat; fairly.

Recorded use

Wiktionary examples

These source excerpts show how relatively appears in context. They illustrate usage; the definition above remains the entry’s reference meaning.

  1. In the present position of Europe, it is obvious, that France domineers. She has gained positively, by adding territory to her dominions [...]; she has gained relatively, by removing Austria to a distance, and by weakening that ancient rival to such a degree, as to secure her inaction for an age.
  2. [T]he Sundanese [...] have better preserved their primitive usages than the other inhabitants of the island. They are as a rule taller, more robust, and healthier; but they are regarded as relatively barbarous, and in the company of Malays or Javanese, they are themselves ashamed of their dialect, which is looked on as a sort of rude patois.

Etymology

From relative + -ly.

This word in other languages

relativ(Deutsch)relativamente(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as:

  • erlatively
  • realtively
  • relaitvely
  • relatievly
  • relativelly
  • relativelyy
  • relativeyl
  • relativley
  • relativvely
  • relattively
  • relatviely
  • rellatively
  • reltaively
  • rleatively
  • rrelatively

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of relatively - counted as single-character edits (an insertion, a deletion, or a substituted letter). The larger the bar, the easier the typo is to spot; one-edit slips are the ones that sneak past readers.

erlatively2realtively2relaitvely2relatievly2relativelly1relativelyy1relativeyl2relativley2
Edit distance from "relatively"

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA); frequency ordering uses the FrequencyWords open word-frequency list (2018 English corpus, MIT). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "relatively"?
"relatively" is spelled R-E-L-A-T-I-V-E-L-Y. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈɹɛl.ə.tɪv.li/.
What does "relatively" mean?
As an adverb, "relatively" means: In a relative manner; with reference to environment or competition; contextually or comparatively.
What words are commonly confused with "relatively"?
"relatively" is commonly confused with "relatives", "relativity", "relative". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "relatively"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "relatively" is /ˈɹɛl.ə.tɪv.li/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "relatively"?
From relative + -ly. See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Similar English words by spelling shape

Same letter count and similar misspelling depth for "relatively", not the corpus desk frequency band.

Same letter count

Frequency-ranked English headwords with 10 letters (nearest by frequency rank).

confidence#2,247facilities#2,202everywhere#2,201developing#2,196

Similar misspelling depth

Headwords with a similar count of attested misspellings (15 here; floor ≥5).

properties15 variantsscientific15 variantsdetermined15 variantstransport15 variants

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list