proportionate
Americanadjective
verb (used with object)
adjective
verb
Usage
What does porportionate mean? Proportionate is most generally used to describe different things (or different elements of the same thing) that are considered to be properly balanced in some way.In other words, it’s used to describe things that are said to match in terms of proportions—the relation between different parts, or their relative size or amount.The word proportional is a close synonym that can often be used to mean the same thing.Describing things as proportionate doesn’t necessarily mean they are exactly the same (in size, amount, etc.). Instead, it typically means they are matched or balanced according to what’s thought to be a proper or ideal ratio, or according to real-life dimensions, or in some other way considered appropriate.In some cases, describing something as proportionate is the same as saying that it’s properly proportioned—that it has the proper dimensions or dimensional ratio.For example, artists often study so that they can draw proportionate representations of the human body in which the body has the same proportions that it does in real life.The word can also be applied to intangible things. In military conflicts, a proportionate response is one that is thought to match the level of force of the action that preceded it. In law, the word is often used to describe consequences in relation to committing an illegal act—a sentence is supposed to be proportionate to the crime.The opposite, disproportionate, is used to describe things whose proportions are not even or do not match. For example, a drawing of a person with a normal-sized body but an unusually large head could be described as disproportionate because it doesn’t correspond to the average dimensions of a real body.Less commonly, proportionate is used as a verb meaning to make things proportionate (balanced or matching in such a way).Example: I was raised to believe that success is proportionate to hard work.
Other Word Forms
- nonproportionate adjective
- nonproportionately adverb
- nonproportionateness noun
- proportionately adverb
- proportionateness noun
- unproportionate adjective
- unproportionately adverb
Etymology
Origin of proportionate
1350–1400; Middle English proporcionate < Late Latin prōportiōnātus. See proportion, -ate 1
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.
Speaking to BBC Newsnight, she argued the government's measures were "fair and proportionate" for getting "the balance right between tax and spending".
From BBC
The hearing was shown a note from a detective which said "the claimant had used force which was proportionate and necessary in the circumstances in the defence of himself and the female passenger".
From BBC
Plaid Cymru's spokesperson for housing, Sian Gwenllian MP, said the party had "always" called for a "proportionate approach" to implementing the 182-day rule, including where properties would not be eligible as full-time residences.
From BBC
Trans rights campaigners Translucent say that for many trans people the debate is "excruciatingly difficult", that these cases are rare and when rights "clash" then that needs to be handled in a proportionate way.
From BBC
However, they added a "proportionate" package of national security mitigations had been developed for the site.
From BBC
Definitions 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.
