Relativity
nounThe principle that measurements or judgements depend on the observer or the context, especially Einstein's physical theory of space, time, and gravity.
How to spell relativity
10 letters · 5 syllables
How to pronounce relativity
Say the part in capitals loudest.
What does relativity mean?
- nounThe principle that measurements or judgements depend on the observer or the context, especially Einstein's physical theory of space, time, and gravity.
Relativity in a sentence
-
The physics lecture explained how relativity links time and motion.
-
The theory of relativity reshaped how scientists view gravity.
Where does relativity come from?
Language of origin: Latin
The word traces back to the Latin verb referre, 'to carry back' or 'to refer', which combined re- ('back') with ferre ('to carry'); its irregular past participle relatus gave the stem lat- seen in many English words. From relatus came 'relative', describing one thing considered in connection with another, and the noun 'relativity' was built on it with the suffix -ity, meaning 'the state of being relative'. The word entered English in the early 1800s with the general sense of dependence or connection between things. In 1905 and again in 1915 it took on its now-famous scientific meaning when Albert Einstein's theories made 'relativity' a household term for the way measurements of space and time depend on the observer. The same lat- carrying-root sits inside 'translate' (carried across) and 'relate', a useful reminder that the tricky middle of the word is spelled lat, not let.
How the word is built
- re- (back)
- lat (carried, from Latin latus, past participle of ferre 'to carry')
- -ive (adjective)
- -ity (noun-forming suffix)
Fix your spelling for good.
Spelling Garden finds the words you personally get wrong, plants them in a garden, and brings each one back just before you would have forgotten it.
Just five minutes a day is all it takes to fix your spelling.