respective
Americanadjective
adjective
-
belonging or relating separately to each of several people or things; several
we took our respective ways home
-
an archaic word for respectful
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of respective
First recorded in 1515–25; from Medieval Latin respectīvus, equivalent to Latin respect(us) ( see respect ( def. )) + -īvus -ive ( def. )
Explanation
When two people each have something of their own, it's their respective thing. In a boxing match, the opponents each start in their respective or individual corners. Respective comes from the Latin respectivus meaning "having regard for." Everyone has regard for what's respectively theirs. We have respective opinions, respective responsibilities, respective anxieties. It's basically another word for individual. Each of a set of twins probably has his respective bed, even though they might share a bedroom together.
Vocabulary lists containing respective
Tier 2 Words for the SBAC ELA Items
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To Kill a Mockingbird
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Vocabulary from The Articles of Confederation
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Inglethorpe explains how the likes of Harry Kane, who was coming through the academy at Spurs when he was a youth coach there, and Alexander-Arnold weren't necessarily the best in their respective youth cohorts.
From BBC ● Oct. 8, 2026
Any judgments received could be apportioned among consumers, with their respective share of damages added to their annual tax bill.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 7, 2026
That said, I think it’s too easy to draw a straight line between your respective backgrounds and your reactions to the $3 million.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 7, 2026
On Thursday, they expelled each other's diplomats and shut down their respective embassies.
From Barron's ● Oct. 2, 2026
Then, suddenly, without a word or a look in my direction, the two of them sat down at their respective desks and went to work.
From "Nine Stories" by J. D. Salinger
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Get a wordDefinitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
