"Relevant," "germane," "material," "pertinent," and "applicable" mean relating to or bearing upon the matter at hand. "Relevant" implies a traceable, significant, logical connection, as in "We found evidence relevant to her case." "Germane" adds to "relevant" the idea of fitness or appropriateness to the situation or occasion, as in "His comment was not germane to the discussion." "Material" implies a close and important relationship, as in "The data is material to the study." "Pertinent" stresses a clear relation to something being discussed or considered, as in "She made a pertinent observation." "Applicable" suggests the fitness of bringing a general rule or principle to bear upon a particular case, as in "The rule is not applicable in this situation."