Having happened not long ago. Recency is a fact about time and is constantly mistaken for relevance.
Latin recens (fresh, new, recently made), of further origin honestly uncertain beyond the Latin form itself; recency has meant freshness in time for as long as the word is attested, without ever promising relevance.
Having happened not long ago. The root only ever claimed freshness, never importance — recency is constantly mistaken for relevance, and the word itself never made that promise.