relatively
REHL-uh-tihv-lee
Relatively (adverb) means Fairly or somewhat, when judged against a typical standard. Example: “The exam was relatively easy compared to last year's.”
adverb
1
Fairly or somewhat, when judged against a typical standard.
"The exam was relatively easy compared to last year's."
"Traffic was relatively light for a Friday afternoon."
"The village is relatively quiet during the winter months."
2
In comparison with something else, rather than in an absolute sense.
"The two results should be judged relatively, not on their own."
"Compared with the city centre, this flat is relatively cheap."
"The hill felt relatively easy after the steep mountain we climbed yesterday."
How to use relatively
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishCompared to what you'd normally expect — a softening word that makes a claim less absolute.
Memory tip
Use it to soften a statement: "relatively cheap" is less bold than just saying "cheap."
Common pairings
relatively easy
relatively new
relatively speaking
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The exam was _____ easy compared to last year's.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for relatively
See all rhymes for relatively →Frequently asked questions
What does “relatively” mean?
The word “relatively” means fairly or somewhat, when judged against a typical standard. In plain terms, compared to what you'd normally expect — a softening word that makes a claim less absolute.
How do you pronounce “relatively”?
“Relatively” is pronounced REHL-uh-tihv-lee ([ˈɹɛl.ə.tʰɪv.li] in IPA).
How do you use “relatively” in a sentence?
Here is “relatively” used in a sentence: “The exam was relatively easy compared to last year's.”
What part of speech is “relatively”?
“Relatively” is an adverb.
Is “relatively” a common word?
“Relatively” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “relatively” have?
“Relatively” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: fairly or somewhat, when judged against a typical standard.
What is the difference between relatively and absolutely?
'Relatively' judges something against a standard or comparison — 'relatively cheap' means cheap compared with similar things. 'Absolutely' means completely or without qualification, judged on its own rather than against anything else. So relatively describes a matter of degree, while absolutely describes something total or fixed.
What is the difference between relatively and fairly?
The two are close and often interchangeable, both softening a description to mean 'to a moderate degree.' 'Fairly' simply means quite or somewhat. 'Relatively' adds the sense of a comparison — moderate when measured against a typical standard or against other cases. In casual use, though, people frequently treat them as the same.
What is an example of 'relatively' in a sentence?
'The test was relatively easy' means easy compared with what was expected or with other tests. 'It's a relatively small town' judges the size against typical towns. In each case 'relatively' signals that the description holds by comparison, not in absolute terms, and softens it to mean fairly or somewhat.
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