relatively

Meanings

1. 1adverbnot comparable

   To a fair degree when judged against something else, such as what is normal or expected.

   Grammar: Comes before an adjective or adverb: relatively cheap, relatively quickly.

   Patterns

   • relatively + adjective
   • relatively + adverb

   The test was relatively easy compared with last year's.

   Prices here are relatively low for a coastal city.

   She learned to swim relatively quickly.

2. 2adverbnot comparableformal

   In relation to something else, rather than on its own.

   Grammar: Often appears in the phrase relatively speaking.

   Patterns

   • relatively speaking
   • relatively to something

   Relatively speaking, the town is quiet at night.

   The planet is small relatively to the giant star it orbits.

   These are good results, relatively speaking.

Common combinations

relatively cheap

Tickets were relatively cheap in the off season.

relatively new

The software is relatively new and still has bugs.

relatively few

Relatively few people attended the meeting.

relatively speaking

Relatively speaking, it was a mild winter.

relatively small

A relatively small change made a big difference.

Synonyms and how they differ

comparatively

Comparatively makes the comparison more explicit, while relatively often leaves it unstated.

fairly

Fairly is more casual and does not imply a comparison as strongly as relatively.

somewhat

Somewhat means to a limited extent and has no comparison, whereas relatively does.

rather

Rather often suggests more than expected, while relatively suggests moderate when compared.

Opposites

Word family

relative adjective

considered in comparison with something else

relative noun

a family member

relativity noun

the state of being dependent on other things

relativism noun

the view that truth depends on viewpoint

Commonly confused: relatively or relevantly?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “relatively”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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