far relative

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "far relative" is a valid and usable part of a sentence in written English.
You can use it to refer to a distant relative. For example, "I only recently met my far relative during the family reunion."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

"What are these people going to do with all this money?" So far, relative restraint — or perhaps bewilderment — reigns.

The New York Times

"We think the reaction to this set of comprehensive measures will be the most significant thus far, relative to the earlier six rounds," Barclays said in a report.

BBC

Puncture's mechanical effects have been shown near the puncture site, mechanical effects should be observed far, relative to needle size, from the puncture site, given the disc-wide damage induced by the stab.

Acta Biomaterialia

And so, of course, while the Bs travel twice as far relative to the Cs as the As, they do so at twice the relative speed, and so the times are the same either way.

SEP

Existing methods for linking wildlife movement to remotely sensed landscape data generally rely on the application of subjectively derived distance thresholds to represent proximity (i.e., near or far) relative to disturbance, thereby possibly limiting the scope of research questions and insight gained.

Biological Conservation

A daughter Anastasia married her far relative Gleb Vseslavich, Prince of Minsk who was a member of the Polotsk branch of the Riurik's family.

Wikipedia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

Surprisingly, another member of the Bovini tribe, the water buffalo, which lacks a Bov-A2 sequence in the TP53 promoterter, has an intact PALI1 sequence and so its sequence is similar to its far relatives in Bovidae and dissimilar from its very close relative the cow.

BMC Genomics

With near-far relative measurement and improvements in detector design, the relative precision of neutrino detectors reached 0.2%.

Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment

"I think we are far overreaching relative to our financial situation," Mr. Corzine said.

The New York Times

The mayor of Los Angeles is far weaker, relative to his council, than the mayors of Chicago or New York.

The Economist

In general, poorer countries charge far more, relative to income, than rich ones to register new businesses.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When referring to a "far relative", consider providing additional context to clarify the specific relationship (e.g., "second cousin once removed") to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "far relative" when you actually mean "far-flung relative". The former refers to the degree of kinship, while the latter refers to geographical distance. For example, say "My far-flung relatives live overseas" not "My far relatives live overseas" if you are referring to their location.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "far relative" functions as a noun phrase, where "far" modifies the noun "relative". Ludwig AI indicates it's a valid and usable phrase.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Wiki

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "far relative" is a grammatically sound and generally acceptable way to describe a family member who is not closely related. While not exceedingly common, as Ludwig points out, its meaning is clear and its usage is varied, appearing in news, scientific articles, and general online content. When using this phrase, ensure you're indicating a degree of kinship rather than geographical distance. Alternatives such as "distant relative" or "remote relative" can also be employed, depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

distant relation

Replaces "relative" with "relation", keeping the meaning of a family member not closely related.

remote relative

Uses "remote" instead of "far" to describe the degree of separation in the family tree.

far-removed relative

Emphasizes the lack of direct connection within the family.

distantly related

Changes the structure to an adjective phrase describing the relationship.

not closely related

Provides a more explicit description of the lack of close kinship.

long-distance relative

Focuses on the geographical distance rather than familial closeness.

extended family member

Indicates a relative outside the immediate family circle.

second cousin

Specifies a particular type of distant relative.

collateral relative

Uses a more formal term to indicate a non-direct line of descent.

family acquaintance

Suggests a weaker familial bond, almost like a friend of the family.

FAQs

What does "far relative" mean?

A "far relative" refers to a family member with whom you share a distant connection in your lineage, implying that they are not part of your immediate family or closely related.

Is it correct to say "far relative"?

Yes, "far relative" is a grammatically correct phrase used to describe a family member who is distantly related.

What is the difference between "far relative" and "distant relative"?

The phrases "far relative" and "distant relative" are largely interchangeable. Both refer to relatives who are not closely related. The choice between them often comes down to personal preference or the specific context.

What are some other ways to describe a "far relative"?

You can use phrases like "remote relative", "distantly related", or "extended family member" to describe a "far relative".