germane

C2+ Topic:Describing Qualities

US /dʒɚˈmeɪn/ UK /dʒəˈmeɪn/ See IPA manual

Meanings

1

adj
relevant and appropriate to the matter under consideration

Her remarks were germane to the central question.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 adj · relevant and appropriate to... relevant pertinent applicable apposite apropos material

Opposites

irrelevant immaterial extraneous inapplicable

Word family

Derived forms germanelygermaneness

Related forms cognate

Etymology

From Middle English germain ('having the same parents, closely related'), from Old French germain, from Latin germanus ('of the same parentage, genuine'). The sense 'relevant' arose via Shakespeare from the idea of close kinship to the matter at hand.

germain Old French germanus Latin

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Describing Qualities

External links

# germane

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2+
**Part of speech:** adj
**IPA (US):** /dʒɚˈmeɪn/
**IPA (UK):** /dʒəˈmeɪn/

## Meanings
1. relevant and appropriate to the matter under consideration

## Examples
- Her remarks were germane to the central question.

## Synonyms
- relevant
- pertinent
- applicable
- apposite
- apropos
- material

## Antonyms
- irrelevant
- immaterial
- extraneous
- inapplicable

## Derived Forms
- germanely
- germaneness

## Related Forms
- cognate

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: germain
- Root: germanus

## Etymology
From Middle English germain ('having the same parents, closely related'), from Old French germain, from Latin germanus ('of the same parentage, genuine'). The sense 'relevant' arose via Shakespeare from the idea of close kinship to the matter at hand.

## AI Etymology
Germane comes from Middle English germain ('having the same parents, closely related'), from Old French germain, from Latin germanus ('of the same parentage, genuine'). The sense 'relevant' arose via Shakespeare from the idea of close kinship to the matter at hand. The form is best read as a historical transfer or inheritance, with its older language material carrying the main semantic load. As an adjective, it carries the sense "relevant and appropriate to the matter under consideration", with the older formation still helping explain the modern use. Relevant historical forms include Old French germain and Latin germanus. Derivative forms include germanely, germaneness; related words include cognate.

## Topics
- Describing Qualities

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