social relevance

Meaning

1. 1noununcountable

   The quality of being connected to and important for people's lives and current society.

   Grammar: Uncountable; say 'social relevance', not 'a social relevance' or 'social relevances'.

   Patterns

   • have social relevance
   • lack social relevance
   • the social relevance of something

   The professor argued that poetry still has social relevance in the digital age.

   Critics questioned the social relevance of the old museum's collection.

Common combinations

have social relevance

The film has social relevance because it deals with homelessness.

lack social relevance

Some students feel the course lacks social relevance.

social relevance of

They discussed the social relevance of religion today.

question the social relevance

The article questions the social relevance of traditional exams.

Synonyms and how they differ

social significance

Very close in meaning, but often used for the importance of an event or symbol rather than its connection to society.

contemporary relevance

Focuses on importance now; 'social relevance' specifically links to society and people.

Opposites

Word family

socially relevant adjective

Describing something that has social relevance.

relevance noun

The general quality of being connected to the matter at hand.

Commonly confused: social relevance or social media?

Practice

Make it your own

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

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