pertinent
pertinent Lexical Profile
pertinent Game Scores & Validity
• adjective
Relevant or applicable to a particular matter, topic, or situation; having a clear and direct logical connection.
"The committee asked the witness to focus only on the facts pertinent to the investigation."
Word Nuance & Usage
When followed by a complement, 'pertinent' takes the preposition 'to' (e.g., 'pertinent to the discussion'). Note that its formal antonym is 'impertinent' in the older sense of 'irrelevant', though in modern English 'impertinent' almost exclusively means 'rude or disrespectful'.
• Rhymes for pertinent
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed in the late 14th century from Old French 'pertinent', from Latin 'pertinentem', the present participle of 'pertinere' ('to reach, belong, or relate to'), formed from 'per-' ('through') and 'tenere' ('to hold').
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.