1 pertinence | Definition of pertinence

pertinence

noun
per·​ti·​nence | \ ˈpÉ™r-tÉ™-nÉ™n(t)s How to pronounce pertinence (audio) , ˈpÉ™rt-nÉ™n(t)s\

Definition of pertinence

: the quality or state of being pertinent : relevance

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Examples of pertinence in a Sentence

job applicants should question the pertinence of any questions about their personal lives

Recent Examples on the Web

Fortunately, the Democratic field includes one person familiar with Thucydides’ warning and who is unafraid to assert its contemporary pertinence. George F. Will, The Denver Post, "Will: To defeat Trump, Democrats should nominate Bennet," 14 July 2019 Fortunately, the Democratic field includes one person familiar with Thucydides’ warning and who is unafraid to assert its contemporary pertinence. George Will, Twin Cities, "George Will: To defeat Trump, Democrats should nominate Bennet," 14 July 2019 Fortunately, the Democratic field includes one person familiar with Thucydides’ warning and who is unafraid to assert its contemporary pertinence. George Will, National Review, "To Defeat Trump, Democrats Should Nominate Michael Bennet," 14 July 2019 But realizing the play’s own kind of mortality—its slow shift from urgent cri de coeur to period piece mined for pertinence—bathes it in a loving new light, one that Elliott teases out gracefully in this production’s finest scenes. Richard Lawson, Vanities, "Review: Angels in America Returns to Broadway in All Its Triumph and Tragedy," 26 Mar. 2018 Yet the singularity of 1968 does not diminish its pertinence to our present turmoil. Rachel Aviv, The New Yorker, "Honoring Martin Luther King, Jr., Fifty Years After His Death," 10 Feb. 2018 There can be no denying the worth or pertinence of such an undertaking at a time when black men face acts of violence, incarceration and death on a seemingly day-to-day basis. John Von Rhein, chicagotribune.com, "Lawrence Brownlee delivers committed reading of new song cycle about being black and male in America," 23 Feb. 2018 Now, however, attention must be paid to demonstrating the continuing pertinence of the Founders’ premises to places with the crackling energy of booming Arizona. George F. Will, The Denver Post, "A place to learn and celebrate America’s foundational principles," 11 Mar. 2017 Now, however, attention must be paid to demonstrating the continuing pertinence of the Founders’ premises to places with the crackling energy of booming Arizona. George F. Will, The Denver Post, "A place to learn and celebrate America’s foundational principles," 11 Mar. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'pertinence.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of pertinence

1611, in the meaning defined above

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More from Merriam-Webster on pertinence

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for pertinence

Spanish Central: Translation of pertinence

Nglish: Translation of pertinence for Spanish Speakers