Definition of relevance

The word "relevance" traces back to the Latin word "relevāre," meaning "to raise up, lighten, relieve." This sense of lifting or elevating evolved into the concept of "making something important or noticeable." Over time, "relevāre" became the French "relever," and then "relevance" in English. The word's evolution reflects the shift from a literal action of lifting to a metaphorical one of highlighting something's importance or connection to a specific context.