What does unrelated mean?
Unrelated is an adjective meaning that two people, things, events, or ideas have no meaningful connection with one another. It is commonly used for matters that are logically or causally separate, as in saying that an incident is unrelated to a crime, or that two research fields have developed along unrelated paths. The word can also describe the absence of kinship or shared historical origin. Unlike a vague negative such as “different,” “unrelated” specifically denies that a relevant relationship exists. However, it does not necessarily imply that two subjects never overlap or can never be compared. In conversation, writers often use it to distinguish unrelated matters from the central topic, while in technical and historical contexts it may concern evidence, causation, descent, or development. Its direct construction from a negative prefix and “related” makes its meaning transparent: a connection is being explicitly set aside.
adjectiveHaving no connection or relationship to something else, especially in terms of logic, cause, context, or shared origin.
- Having no logical, causal, or contextual connection with something else.
- Not connected by kinship, descent, or common origin.
"The two incidents appear to be entirely unrelated."
"The witness's account of the morning was unrelated to the case being investigated."
"The two languages developed along unrelated historical paths despite sharing some vocabulary."
Two things can appear in the same story and still be unrelated: sharing a context does not necessarily create a meaningful connection.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does unrelated come from?
“Unrelated” was formed in English by combining the negative prefix “un-” with the adjective “related.” “Related” comes from “relate,” which was borrowed from Latin “relare,” meaning to bring back or refer, and was ultimately based on “referre,” meaning to carry back. The same Latin family produced English words such as “relate,” “relation,” and “relative,” which remain cognate with the adjective used in “unrelated.”
How unrelated is actually used
The word is neutral and common in both formal and informal registers. It is especially frequent in discussions of events, evidence, subjects, and ideas, where it emphasizes the absence of a meaningful connection.
Easily confused with unrelated
Unrelated means having no connection to something else, whereas unrelatable describes a person, character, or experience that others find difficult to identify with or understand emotionally.