relatively new

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "relatively new" is correct and usable in written English.
It generally refers to something that has only recently been introduced but is still in use, or has only been around for a short amount of time. For example, "This technology is relatively new, but it has already gained widespread acceptance."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

This trend is relatively new.

The New York Times

This rule is relatively new.

The New York Times - Sports

It is also relatively new.

The Economist

"It's still relatively new.

Princeton University

Most are relatively new.

The New York Times

Cepia is relatively new.

The New York Times

It's all relatively new.

The Washington Post

Target-date funds are relatively new.

The New York Times

Lightning science remains a relatively new field.

The New York Times

Ms. McCaskill's enthusiasm is relatively new.

The New York Times

The office is relatively new, in general.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "relatively new" to indicate that something is more recent than average, but not brand new. This helps set a context for its stage of development or familiarity.

Common error

Avoid using "relatively new" when describing something that is genuinely cutting-edge or groundbreaking. Instead, consider phrases like "novel" or "state-of-the-art" to more accurately convey the level of innovation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "relatively new" functions as a qualifying adjective modifying a noun. It describes the degree of recentness of something, indicating it's more recent than average but not entirely brand new. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is commonly used in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Academia

25%

Science

12.5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

6.25%

Wiki

3.125%

Reference

3.125%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "relatively new" is a versatile adjective phrase used to describe something that is more recent than average, but not brand new. As noted by Ludwig AI, it's grammatically sound and commonly used in written English. With a neutral register, it appears frequently in news, academic, and scientific contexts. When using "relatively new", remember to consider phrases like "fairly recent" or "newly established" to add precision and use it when a moderate degree of recentness is intended.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

recently introduced

Highlights the act of introduction, more formal and specific.

fairly recent

Implies a moderate degree of recentness, slightly less emphasis on novelty than "relatively new".

of recent origin

Formal phrasing emphasizing the origin or beginning of something.

newish

Informal term suggesting something is somewhat new, less formal than "relatively new".

in its infancy

Suggests something is in the early stages of development, often used for fields or concepts.

fresh

Emphasizes the novelty and originality, but is less precise about the timeframe.

not long-standing

Emphasizes the lack of a long history, a more negative framing compared to "relatively new".

newly established

Focuses on the establishment or creation of something, more specific than "relatively new".

just launched

Highlights the very initial stage of something's existence, more immediate than "relatively new".

up-and-coming

Implies potential and future development, not solely focused on recentness.

FAQs

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

You can use "relatively new" to describe concepts, technologies, or trends that have emerged recently. For instance, "The use of AI in education is a "relatively new" phenomenon."

What phrases can I use instead of "relatively new"?

Alternatives to "relatively new" include "fairly recent", "newly established", or "recently introduced", depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

Is "relatively new" the same as "completely new"?

No, "relatively new" indicates something is more recent than average, but it's not brand new. "Completely new" implies something has never existed before. Thus, "completely new" describes something more innovative than "relatively new".

When is it appropriate to use "relatively new"?

Use "relatively new" when you want to emphasize that something is recent enough to be noteworthy but not so recent that it lacks any history or context. This is often useful to clarify the stage of development, compared to other similar elements.