relative meaning and definition

RELATIVE noun

Definition of relative (noun)

1. a person related by blood or marriage
   • "police are searching for relatives of the deceased"; "he has distant relations back in New Jersey"
   • synonyms: relation
2. an animal or plant that bears a relationship to another (as related by common descent or by membership in the same genus)
   • synonyms: congenator, congener, congeneric

RELATIVE adjective

Definition of relative (adjective)

1. estimated by comparison; not absolute or complete
   • "a relative stranger"
   • synonyms: comparative
   • antonym: absolute
2. properly related in size or degree or other measurable characteristics; usually followed by `to'
   • "the punishment ought to be proportional to the crime"; "earnings relative to production"
   • synonyms: proportional