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.
It’s an album that aligns with each musician’s trademarks — characterized by Lange’s soothing electronica and Reyna’s eclectic elasticity — but an entirely unique work within their respective discographies.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 11, 2026
Having emerged as a late-order hitter, his run-scoring became even more prolific when he moved up the order to open the batting for his respective teams.
From BBC ● Aug. 5, 2026
Under the transition, set to take effect Aug. 5, People’s Chief Executive Neil Vogel and Chief Financial Officer Tim Quinn would take on the same respective roles at the parent company.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 3, 2026
Both incidents unfolded roughly the same amount of time after the start of their respective bull markets.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 31, 2026
Then he marked them with their respective names so that all he had to do was read the inscription in order to identify them.
From "One Hundred Years of Solitude" by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
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.
