respective

American  

[ri-spek-tiv] / rɪˈspɛk tɪv /

adjective

1. pertaining individually or severally to each of a number of persons, things, etc.; particular.

   I will now discuss the respective merits of the candidates.

   Synonyms:

   corresponding, individual, separate

   Antonyms:

   irrespective

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respective British  

/ rɪˈspɛktɪv /

adjective

1. belonging or relating separately to each of several people or things; several

   we took our respective ways home

2. an archaic word for respectful

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Other Word Forms

• respectiveness noun

Etymology

Origin of respective

First recorded in 1515–25; from Medieval Latin respectīvus, equivalent to Latin respect(us) ( respect ( def. ) ) + -īvus -ive ( def. )

Example Sentences

Ten months later, Kellogg is out and Witkoff and Dmitriev, two businessmen with strong personal connections to their respective presidents, are sketching a new economic and security order for Europe.

From The Wall Street Journal

‘Sheriff Country,’ spun off from ‘Fire Country,’ and ‘Boston Blue,’ a spinoff of the popular series ‘Blue Bloods,’ are built closely along the lines of their respective motherships.

From Los Angeles Times

Both bookstore chains are the largest in their respective countries—and have been growing.

From The Wall Street Journal

They have signed agreements related to space and missile defense technology transfers and increased cooperation between their respective BeiDou and Glonass satellite navigation systems.

From The Wall Street Journal

“The Board believes that each transaction is capable of obtaining the necessary U.S. and foreign regulatory approvals and that any difference between the respective regulatory risk levels is not material,” the letter said.

From MarketWatch

Related Words

• various