Germane
hardNeutral tonejer-MAYN
adjective
Definition
relevant and appropriate to the topic
Memory hook
GERMANE sounds like a 'German' cousin who's closely RELATED—a germane point is closely related and relevant to the discussion.
Word roots
Learning roots unlocks whole word families. Study common GRE root words.
Examples
“The lawyer objected that the witness's anecdote was not germane to the charges.”
“Keep your comments germane to the proposal so the meeting doesn't drift.”
Test yourself
Fill in the blank with the right word:
“The lawyer objected that the witness's anecdote was not ______ to the charges.”
Show answer
germane
Synonyms
Antonyms
Categories
GRE Tip
Germane is a hard-difficulty GRE word. On the GRE, you might see it paired with synonyms like "relevant" or "pertinent" in Sentence Equivalence questions. Look for contrast clues (however, despite, although) that signal the opposite meaning. Words like "irrelevant".
Related GRE Words
tangential
only slightly relevant; diverging from the main point
untenable
impossible to defend or maintain against objection
extraneous
irrelevant or unrelated to the matter at hand
refute
To prove a statement or theory to be wrong or false
wrangle
To argue or dispute angrily; to round up cattle
aberrant
Deviating from what is normal or expected
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