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relative humidity
noun
: the ratio of the amount of water vapor actually present in the air to the greatest amount possible at the same temperature
Examples of relative humidity in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The relative humidity will also drop to around 15% to 19% by Sunday.
—Summer Lin, Los Angeles Times, 10 May 2024
Heat index can be determined by air temperature and relative humidity.
—Brayden Garcia, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 May 2024
While rain is not likely, the relative humidity will be high early in the morning, estimated to be 97% at 7 a.m.
Additionally, skies will be mostly cloudy throughout the entire day and winds will range from 6 to 9 mph.
—Aaron Valdez, The Enquirer, 4 May 2024
To create a suitable indoor environment, however, constant use of a humidifier will be necessary since relative humidity around the plant must be at least 50% at all times and the relative humidity in our residences fluctuates between 30 and 50%.
—Joshua Siskin, Orange County Register, 20 Apr. 2024
For the Smokehouse Creek fire to grow so big so quickly, three weather conditions had to align: high temperatures, low relative humidity and strong winds, said John Nielsen-Gammon, the Texas state climatologist and a professor of atmospheric science at Texas A&M University.
—Christopher Flavelle, New York Times, 29 Feb. 2024
In the afternoon, the relative humidity will drop below 30%, leading to slightly elevated fire weather concerns.
—Robert A. Cronkleton, Kansas City Star, 12 Apr. 2024
Low relative humidity is combining with high winds to create an extreme fire weather threat across the western half of the Southern and Central Plains – the highest risk level for fire weather.
—Dalia Faheid, CNN, 7 Apr. 2024
The Weather Service office in Blacksburg, Va., said that despite diminishing winds Thursday, the combination of low relative humidity, northwesterly winds and dry fuels would again make for ideal fire weather across southwestern Virginia and southeastern West Virginia through the evening.
—Remy Tumin, New York Times, 21 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'relative humidity.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1819, in the meaning defined above
Time Traveler
The first known use of relative humidity was
in 1819
Dictionary Entries Near relative humidity
Cite this Entry
“Relative humidity.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/relative%20humidity. Accessed 23 May. 2024.
Kids Definition
relative humidity
noun
: the amount of water vapor actually present in the air compared to the greatest amount possible at the same temperature
Medical Definition
relative humidity
noun
: the ratio of the amount of water vapor actually present in the air to the greatest amount possible at the same temperature compare absolute humidity
More from Merriam-Webster on relative humidity
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about relative humidity
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