Pertain is a formalused in serious, official, or academic language rather than casual speech verb that most often means to relate to or be relevantclosely connected to the matter being discussed or considered to something. It can also mean to belongto be a member or component of a larger group or thing to or be part of something, though that use is less common.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-16. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Pronunciation
AI-generated pronunciation audio (OpenAI).
Accent: General American English
IPA: /pər-TEYN/
Easy pronunciation: per-TANE (approximate spelling).
Stress: Stress the second syllable: tain.
Used in the sense of 'be relevant to' or 'relate to.'
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-16. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Pertain Meaning
to be connected with or about something
Part of speech: verb
Definition: be relevant to; relate to something
Example: My remark pertained to your earlier comments.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- bear on — Works well in the sense of being relevant to something.
- concern — Common and natural when something is about a topic.
- have to do with — A clear everyday substitute for 'be relevant to'.
- relate — Fits when something is connected with another topic.
- touch on — Works when something mentions or lightly deals with a subject.
- touch — Can fit this sense in formal usage, but is less direct than the other options.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-16. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Other Meanings of Pertain
Meaning 2
to belong to something or form part of it
Part of speech: verb
Definition: be a part or attribute of something; belong to it
Example: These rights pertain to all citizens.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- appertain — A formal near-synonym in this legal or formal sense.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-16. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Pertain Synonyms
Similar Meaning
- bear on
- concern
- have to do with
- relate
- touch on
belong to something; be part of it
- appertain
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-16. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Common Mistakes
- Using pertain as a casual everyday word; it is more formal and often appears in writing.
- Mixing up 'pertain to' with 'belong to' or 'apply to' without checking the intended sense.
- Treating 'refer' as a full synonym, even though it often means something different.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-16. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does pertain mean?
Pertain usually means to relate to or be relevant to something. In a less common sense, it can mean to belong to or be part of something.
What are the best synonyms for pertain?
For the main meaning, good synonyms include relate, concern, bear on, have to do with, and touch on. For the less common belonging sense, appertain is the closest match.
Is pertain formal?
Yes. Pertain is more formal than most everyday alternatives, so it is more common in writing than in speech.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-16. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.