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Relevance vs. Relevancy — What's the Difference?

By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on October 26, 2023
Relevance and Relevancy both mean the quality of being directly connected or pertinent to a matter. They're often used interchangeably, but "relevance" is more common.
Relevance vs. Relevancy — What's the Difference?

Difference Between Relevance and Relevancy

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Key Differences

Relevance and Relevancy both refer to the condition of being pertinent, applicable, or connected to a particular matter. Their meanings overlap, and they can often be used interchangeably.
Historically, Relevance and Relevancy have been used in specific contexts. For instance, in legal jargon, "relevancy" might be preferred to describe the applicability of evidence in court. On the other hand, "relevance" is broadly used in many contexts, such as discussions about topics or issues.
From a linguistic standpoint, Relevance is the more frequently used term in American English. It's considered more standard and is commonly found in academic, casual, and professional discourse. Relevancy, while understood and not incorrect, is less common.
Another distinction is in their derivatives. From Relevance, we get "relevant," which means directly connected or appropriate to the current matter. From Relevancy, we would still use "relevant" as its adjective form, showing the more dominant presence of the "-ance" form.
In summary, while both Relevance and Relevancy mean the same and can often be used interchangeably, "relevance" is more commonly used and is the more standard choice in most contexts.
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Comparison Chart

Basic Definition

Quality of being pertinent or connected.
Quality of being pertinent or connected.

Usage Frequency

More commonly used in American English.
Less commonly used.

Preferred Context

Used in various contexts (e.g., academic, casual).
Historically used in specific contexts like legal.

Derivative Adjective

Relevant
Relevant (no unique adjective from "relevancy").

Synonym

Applicability, pertinence.
Applicability, pertinence.

Compare with Definitions

Relevance

Significance in a particular context.
Given the current crisis, the topic's relevance has increased.

Relevancy

The quality of being pertinent or applicable.
The relevancy of his testimony was challenged by the opposing lawyer.

Relevance

Quality of being directly connected or applicable.
The relevance of this research to modern science is undeniable.

Relevancy

Significance or importance in a specific context.
The relevancy of historical events in shaping culture is profound.

Relevance

Importance in relation to a specific subject.
The relevance of voter turnout in a democracy cannot be overstated.

Relevancy

Suitability or appropriateness in relation to a topic.
The professor ensured the relevancy of the curriculum to the students' careers.

Relevance

The condition of being meaningful and purposeful.
The speaker's stories added relevance to his message.

Relevancy

Connection or relation to a matter.
She raised doubts about the relevancy of the old documents.

Relevance

Pertinence to the matter at hand.
She questioned the relevance of his comment in the meeting.

Relevancy

Being directly related to the issue at hand.
The data provided had direct relevancy to the research question.

Relevance

Relevance is the concept of one topic being connected to another topic in a way that makes it useful to consider the second topic when considering the first. The concept of relevance is studied in many different fields, including cognitive sciences, logic, and library and information science.

Relevancy

One that is relevant.

Relevance

The quality or state of being closely connected or appropriate
The quantity, quality, and relevance of links count towards your rating
This film has contemporary relevance
The Web does allow us to produce more articles of relevance to our readers

Relevancy

Relevance; pertinence.

Relevance

Having a bearing on or connection with the matter at hand.

Relevancy

Sufficiency (of a statement, claim etc.) to carry weight in law; legal pertinence.

Relevance

Meaningful or purposeful in current society or culture
Thought that the traditional male role of breadwinner was no longer relevant.

Relevancy

(uncountable) The degree to which a thing is relevant; relevance, applicability.

Relevance

The property or state of being relevant or pertinent.

Relevancy

(countable) A relevant thing.

Relevance

The quality or state of being relevant; pertinency; applicability.
Its answer little meaning, little relevancy bore.

Relevancy

The relation of something to the matter at hand

Relevance

Sufficiency to infer the conclusion.

Relevance

The relation of something to the matter at hand

Common Curiosities

Can I use them interchangeably in an essay?

Yes, but it's better to stay consistent and use "relevance" as it's more standard.

Are there contexts where one is preferred over the other?

Historically, "relevancy" has been used in legal contexts, but "relevance" is broadly applicable.

Is "relevancy" becoming obsolete?

Not obsolete, but "relevance" is certainly more prevalent.

Is one more formal than the other?

Both are formal, but "relevance" is more commonly used in American English.

What's the adjective form of "relevancy"?

The adjective for both "relevance" and "relevancy" is "relevant."

Are they used differently in British English?

Both are understood, but like in American English, "relevance" is more common.

Which one should I use in a business setting?

"Relevance" is the safer and more standard choice.

Are relevance and relevancy synonyms?

Yes, they both refer to the quality of being pertinent or connected to a matter.

Do other languages differentiate between these two like English does?

The differentiation is specific to English. Translations in other languages will usually have one standard term.

Why are there two words for the same meaning?

Language evolution leads to synonyms. While both exist, "relevance" has become more dominant in usage.

How does "relevancy" relate to "irrelevancy"?

"Irrelevancy" is the opposite of "relevancy", denoting a lack of connection or pertinence.

Are they noun forms of the adjective "relevant"?

Yes, both "relevance" and "relevancy" are noun forms of "relevant."

Is "relevance" used in academic writing?

Yes, "relevance" is commonly used in academic contexts.

What's an antonym for "relevance"?

An antonym for "relevance" is "irrelevance."

Can something have varying degrees of relevance/relevancy?

Yes, something can have more or less relevance/relevancy to a topic.

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Author Spotlight

Written by
Tayyaba Rehman
Tayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.

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