The term relative location of a settlement refers to

The term relative location of a settlement refers to the position of the settlement in relation to other places or landmarks. In other words, it is the location of the settlement relative to other geographical features or human-made landmarks, rather than its exact location on the earth's surface. For example, the relative location of a settlement could be described as being "30 miles south of the nearest city" or "located near a major river." The relative location is important because it helps to provide context and understand the settlement's relationship with other places. It is not related to the nature of the land on which the settlement is located, whether the settlement is inhabited by relatives, an imaginary point on the settlement, or the position of buildings in relation to one another.