relatively

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "relatively" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you are comparing one thing to another thing, for example "The weather this summer has been relatively mild compared to last year's temperatures."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Travel

Politics

Sport

Film

Opinion

Tech

Business

Lifestyle

Music

Education

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Nazarbayev permitted a relatively high degree of political activity until the emergence of a reform movement called Democratic Choice of Kazakhstan, backed by several wealthy business people, in late 2001.

The Guardian

A Labour source said that, given teenagers have a "tremendous vested interest in whether or not we stay in the EU or leave", there could be a strong appetite for amending the EU referendum bill in the Lords, even if Labour and the SNP fail to recruit the relatively small number of Tory rebels they would need to defeat the government in the Commons.

The Guardian

Amid criticisms that £10m to £20m was relatively small figure on which to make such a major policy announcement – the NHS budget is more than £100bn a year – the health secretary disputed the No 10 claim.

The Guardian

Flights extra While the situation in East Timor is relatively calm compared with recent periods of political strife, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office still advises against "all but essential travel" to the region.

The Guardian - Travel

Take two relatively recent scandals of agents the forces of law and order were running within two main paramilitary force as evidence of this.

The Guardian

Neil reckons that the tense, topsy-turvy nature of their semi-final could give them an edge over Middlesbrough, whose victory over Brentford was relatively straight-forward.

The Guardian - Sport

At 48, Balls is still relatively young and now has to decide what to do with the rest of his career.

The Guardian

This shows how adaptable public services have been so far, and, the fact that, in historic terms, that when retrenchment began they were relatively fully funded.

The Guardian

These figures should come as no surprise; people from Indian backgrounds have in general terms had success in Britain, with high educational outcomes, low unemployment and relatively high average incomes.

The Guardian - Opinion

"You may go looking for anime on mainstream television," he said, "but anime's profile on mainstream UK television has always been relatively low – a few late-night screenings on Channel 4 and the occasional prime-time airing on Sci Fi".

The Guardian

I have on file cases of Britons recently imprisoned for crimes as relatively mild as abusive tweeting, poll-rigging, Boat Race obstructing, cathedral desecrating, job-application falsifying, expenses fiddling, urinatingon a war memorial, speeding-point switching, licence fee non-paying, and googling in court.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "relatively", consider what the comparison is being made to. Is it implicit or explicit? Make sure the context makes the comparison clear for the reader.

Common error

Avoid using "relatively" as a filler word without a clear point of comparison. Saying something is "relatively good" is vague unless the reader knows what it's being compared to. Provide context or be more specific.

How to use

Learn how to use "relatively" with practical examples and tips.

How to use

Linguistic Context

The word "relatively" primarily functions as an adverb. It modifies adjectives or other adverbs to indicate the degree to which something is true when compared to something else. Ludwig AI confirms its correct and usable status in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Formal & Business

25%

Science

15%

Less common in

Reference

10%

Wiki

8%

Social Media

7%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "relatively" is a versatile adverb used to express comparison and perspective. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically sound and commonly used in written English. It functions to qualify statements and provide a frame of reference, suggesting a measured assessment rather than an absolute truth. While "relatively" appears most frequently in news and media contexts, it's suitable for a range of registers. Remember to provide clear context or be specific to avoid ambiguity when using "relatively" in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Comparatively speaking

This alternative places more emphasis on the act of making a comparison.

In comparison

Similar to "comparatively speaking", this highlights the comparative aspect but is more concise.

By comparison

This alternative is a more explicit way to express that you are making a comparison.

Somewhat

A direct synonym indicating a moderate degree, often interchangeable with "relatively".

Moderately

Similar to "somewhat", this suggests a medium level or degree.

To some degree

Similar to "to a certain extent", this conveys a partial or limited impact.

To a certain extent

This phrase implies a limited degree or scope, similar to one sense of "relatively".

In some measure

This indicates a partial or limited degree, emphasizing the incomplete nature of the quality.

More or less

Implies an approximation or estimation, often used when precision is not crucial.

On balance

This suggests a consideration of different factors leading to a qualified assessment.

FAQs

How can I use "relatively" in a sentence?

Use "relatively" to compare something to a standard or expectation. For example, "The project was "relatively easy" compared to our previous endeavors".

What's the difference between "relatively" and "comparatively"?

"Relatively" emphasizes a degree or proportion, while "comparatively" emphasizes a direct comparison between two things. They are often interchangeable, but "comparatively" might be preferred when the comparison is explicit.

What can I say instead of "relatively"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "somewhat", "moderately", "to some extent", or "in comparison".

Is it correct to say "relatively important"?

Yes, it is correct. "Relatively important" means something is important in relation to other things. For example, "Education is "relatively important" for career advancement".