# relativity

/ˌɹɛɫəˈtɪvəti/ (US) · /ɹɪlɐtˈɪvɪti/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/relativity
Updated: 2026-05-06

## Definition

the idea that how you see things like time and space depends on where you are and how fast you are moving. It also means that things only have value or meaning when you compare them to something else.

For teachers: the state of being dependent on a specific frame of reference or relationship. In physics, it refers to the theories of Albert Einstein regarding the interdependence of space, time, and motion.

## Examples

- The theory of relativity changed how we understand the universe.
- In economics, the relativity of price means that a ten-dollar discount feels more significant on a small purchase than on a luxury car.
- Einstein's general relativity posits that gravity is not a force between masses but a curvature of spacetime caused by the presence of energy and mass.

## Usage notes

- Often used with the preposition 'of' to specify the relationship being described.

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