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YOUR VOCABULARY, ONE WORD AT A TIME

germane

Adjective

IPA /dʒɜːˈmeɪn/

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Meaning in plain English

Directly relevant to the subject being discussed.

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Pronunciation

germane/dʒɜːˈmeɪn/

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  1. The topic under discussion

  2. A directly relevant point

A point germane to a question is directly relevant to it.

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  1. Her question about parking was germane to our plans for the party.
  2. Please include only evidence that is germane to the research question.

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Her question about parking was ________ to our plans for the party.
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germane — Directly relevant to the subject being discussed.

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Directly relevant to the subject being discussed.

Compare: Her question about parking was germane to our plans for the party.

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Word origin

An older variant of german; its present relevance sense developed from a use in Shakespeare's Hamlet.

Did you know?

Germane is normally followed by to when naming the relevant subject.

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germane

/dʒɜːˈmeɪn/ (Adjective)

“This is a formal word. Say germane to the issue, not germane with it.”

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