# relational

/ɹiˈɫeɪʃənəɫ/ (US) · /ɹɪlˈeɪʃənəl/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Adjective

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/relational
Updated: 2026-05-07

## Definition

describing how two or more things are connected or how they affect each other.

For teachers: 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.

## Usage notes

- Typically used attributively before a noun; common in academic, psychological, and technical registers.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.