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Synonyms

respectively

American  
[ri-spek-tiv-lee] / rɪˈspɛk tɪv li /

adverb

  1. (of two or more things) referring or applying to two or more things previously mentioned in a parallel or sequential way.

    Joe and Bob escorted Betty and Alice, respectively.

  2. in precisely the order given; sequentially.

respectively British  
/ rɪˈspɛktɪvlɪ /

adverb

  1. (in listing a number of items or attributes that refer to another list) separately in the order given

    he gave Janet and John a cake and a chocolate respectively
"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of respectively

First recorded in 1550–60; respective + -ly

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.

Deutsche Lufthansa is down 3.45%, while Air France-KLM and IAG—owner of Iberia and British Airways among other airlines—fall 1.6% and 1.1%, respectively.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 9, 2026

Palo Alto Networks and Zscaler reported revenue growth of about 15% and 26%, respectively, for their fiscal second quarters ended in January.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 8, 2026

Dow, Lyondell, and CF surged 78%, 86%, and 68%, respectively, over the period.

From Barron's • Apr. 8, 2026

British Airways owner IAG is up 9.2%, while Lufthansa, easyJet and Ryanair rise 12%, 11% and 9.9% respectively.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 8, 2026

There are no other family members present, though some less familiar acquaintances assume that the white-haired woman and bespectacled man who seldom leave Lainie’s side are her mother and husband, respectively.

From "The Night Circus" by Erin Morgenstern

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.