a relatively new

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a relatively new" is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use it to describe something that has recently been created/discovered/invented, but that is still not the newest version or creation. For example, "The model of car we are using is a relatively new one."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Fake news is a relatively new term.

Forbes

Lightning science remains a relatively new field.

The New York Times

And this is a relatively new phenomenon".

The New York Times

Tourism is a relatively new industry here.

Independent

This is a relatively new phenomenon.

The New York Times - Books

It also leaves a relatively new situation.

The Economist

The camera is a relatively new phenomenon.

The New York Times

This is a relatively new field.

Cornell University

This is a relatively new concept.

The New York Times - Arts

It was a relatively new asset.

The New Yorker

"It was a relatively new idea.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a relatively new" to indicate something is not brand new, but newer compared to other things in its category. This helps to set the context for your audience.

Common error

Avoid using "a relatively new" when describing something that is truly cutting-edge or unprecedented. In such cases, use phrases that emphasize its novelty more strongly.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a relatively new" functions as a pre-modifying adjective phrase to describe nouns. Ludwig AI confirms its usage to qualify something as recently created or discovered, though not necessarily the absolute latest.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Science

30%

Academia

25%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a relatively new" is a common and grammatically sound way to describe something of recent origin, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. It functions as an adjective phrase, offering a neutral register suitable for various contexts, including News & Media, Science, and Academia. While alternatives like "a fairly new" or "a reasonably new" exist, "a relatively new" strikes a balance between formality and clarity. Remember to use it when something is newer compared to others in its category, but not necessarily the absolute latest available.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a fairly new

Emphasizes recentness with a slightly less formal tone.

a reasonably new

Indicates a moderate degree of recentness.

a somewhat new

Suggests a slight degree of recentness.

a quite new

Emphasizes newness with a subtle nuance.

a largely new

Highlights the novelty as a prominent aspect.

a generally new

Indicates that the newness is generally recognized.

a recently developed

Focuses on the action of development in the recent past.

a freshly introduced

Emphasizes the introduction or launch of something new.

a lately established

Highlights the recent establishment or founding of something.

a modern

A much simpler alternative to the phrase "a relatively new", referring to something characterized by modern style, techniques, or technology.

FAQs

How can I use "a relatively new" in a sentence?

Use "a relatively new" to describe something that has emerged or been introduced recently but isn't the absolute latest. For example, "This technology is "a relatively new" development in the field".

What's the difference between "a relatively new" and "a brand new"?

"A brand new" implies something is completely unused and the very latest. "A relatively new" suggests it's newer compared to others, but not necessarily the newest possible thing.

What can I say instead of "a relatively new"?

You can use alternatives like "a fairly new", "a reasonably new", or "a somewhat new" depending on the specific context and nuance you want to convey.

Is "a relatively new" always appropriate, or are there situations where it should be avoided?

While generally acceptable, avoid using "a relatively new" if you're describing something genuinely revolutionary or unprecedented. In those cases, stronger terms emphasizing novelty are more suitable.