rel.
Writing & Everyday abbreviation · Grammar and Dictionary
| Stands for | Relative |
|---|---|
| Categories | Writing & Everyday |
rel. stands for Relative, a grammar and dictionary abbreviation.
Labels relative pronouns and clauses, such as "who," "which" and "that" introducing a clause that modifies a noun, as in "the book that I borrowed." Grammars and dictionaries use it in labels like "rel. pron."
Example: which (rel. pron.) used to introduce a clause describing a thing: "the car, which was red"
Usage notes
American usage guides often prefer "that" for restrictive clauses and "which," set off by commas, for nonrestrictive ones, while British English uses "which" in both. "Whom" is the formal object form of relative "who." Elsewhere rel. abbreviates religion or release.