relevance

Definition of relevance

Alternative forms

• relevancy (less common)

Noun

relevance (uncountable)

1. The property or state of being relevant, pertinency

Synonyms

• bearing
• pertinency

Antonyms

• irrelevance

Related terms

• relevant

Further reading

Relevance, in the common law of evidence, is the tendency of a given item of evidence to prove or disprove one of the legal elements of the case, or to have probative value to make one of the elements of the case likelier or not. Probative is a term used in law to signify "tending to prove." Probative evidence "seeks the truth". Generally in law, evidence that is not probative (prejudicial evidence), or doesn't prove anything, is inadmissible and the rules of evidence permit it to be excluded from a proceeding or stricken from the record "if objected to by opposing counsel." A balancing test may come in to the picture if the value of the evidence needs to be weighed versus its prejudicial nature.