Word
relational
Phoneticsre·la·tion·al, stress on the second syllable
US/ɹiˈɫeɪʃənəɫ/
UK/ɹɪlˈeɪʃənəl/
Definition
adj. describing how two or more things are connected or how they affect each other.
adj. concerning the way in which two or more people or things are connected. Often used in technical contexts to describe data structures or social interactions.
Examples
“The therapist focused on the couple's relational problems.”
“In database management, relational systems organize information into tables that are linked by shared keys.”
“The artist's work explores relational aesthetics, prioritizing the social interactions and human context that emerge during the exhibition over the physical art objects themselves.”
Examples
simple
“The therapist focused on the couple's relational problems.”
contextual
“In database management, relational systems organize information into tables that are linked by shared keys.”
complex
“The artist's work explores relational aesthetics, prioritizing the social interactions and human context that emerge during the exhibition over the physical art objects themselves.”
Usage
Typically used attributively before a noun; common in academic, psychological, and technical registers.
Real-World Examples
“While some staff saw fines as a necessary tool, many believed they damage trust and undermine the relational work needed to support pupils and families to re-engage with school.” “As Isabelle Hau , the executive director of the Stanford Accelerator for Learning, writes, young students need to develop strong social skills, what she calls “ relational intelligence ” to flourish in social settings.” Etymology
From relation + -al. The database sense is from the definition of relation as a set of ordered tuples.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Domains
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/relational