WordGarden.ioproportionate
B2Pronunciation
UK
- /prəˈpɔːʃəneɪt/adjective
US
- /prəˈpɔrʃənət/
Meanings
Adjective
matched to something else in size, amount, or degree
having a constant ratio or corresponding by mathematical proportion
Beyond the definition
When things are proportionate, they're in the right relationship to each other—not too much of one thing compared to another. Think about building with LEGO bricks: a tiny baseplate wouldn't be proportionate to a huge castle built on top! It implies fairness and balance, like a proportionate share of the reward for everyone who helped.
If you study hard for an exam, you'd expect a result that matches your effort. Sometimes it refers to physical size; a baby's head is often disproportionately large compared to its body, but as the child grows, everything becomes more proportionate. It can also describe fairness: "The punishment should be proportionate to the crime."
To say something is proportionate means that it's in a correct or appropriate relationship to something else in terms of size, amount, degree, or intensity. It suggests balance and harmony—things are "in proportion" when they feel right together. Imagine a recipe: if you double the flour, you need to increase the other ingredients proportionately to ensure the texture and flavor remain the same.
Proportionate isn't just about physical measurements. It can also describe fairness or justice. A proportionate response to a minor disagreement might be a calm conversation, rather than escalating into a shouting match. In law, a "proportionate sentence" means the punishment fits the severity of the crime—neither too harsh nor too lenient.
The idea behind "proportionate" is about maintaining a balanced ratio. If one part of something grows, changes, or becomes more serious, the other part should change in a matching way. If a company's profits grow significantly, the employees might hope for a proportionate increase in their year-end bonuses.
So whether it's adjusting ingredients, delivering justice, or balancing work and life, proportionate describes things that are appropriately sized, balanced, and fair in relation to each other—creating a sense of harmony and rightness.
Examples
- 1
Building design
The windows look proportionate to the rest of the building.
- 2
Prize money
Each team received a proportionate share of the prize money.
- 3
Workplace bonuses
Staff bonuses should be proportionate to the amount of extra work people did.
- 4
Legal punishment
The judge said the sentence was proportionate to the seriousness of the crime.
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Project response
We need a proportionate response, not a plan that shuts down the whole project.
See also
Similar
Shades of meaning
Contrast
Used with (collocations)
- proportionate response
- proportionate share
- proportionate to
Word family
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Forms and spellings
4 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- proportionateverbadjective
Forms
- proportionatedpast tenseverbadjective
- proportionatesverbadjective
- proportionating-ing formverbadjective