proportional

1 of 2

noun

pro·​por·​tion·​al prə-ˈpȯr-shnəl How to pronounce proportional (audio)
-shə-nᵊl
: a number or quantity in a proportion

proportional

2 of 2

adjective

1
a
: corresponding in size, degree, or intensity
b
: having the same or a constant ratio
corresponding sides of similar triangles are proportional
2
: regulated or determined in size or degree with reference to proportions
a proportional system of immigration quotas
a proportional font/typeface [=a font/typeface with characters of various widths]
proportionality noun
proportionally
prə-ˈpȯr-shnə-lē How to pronounce proportional (audio)
-shə-nᵊl-ē
adverb

Examples of proportional in a Sentence

Adjective The features of the face in the drawing are proportional. the website's popularity increased exponentially, resulting in a proportional increase in advertising revenue
Recent Examples on the Web
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Noun
The bottom line: Arkansas would need to add 20 moms to the legislature to achieve representation proportional with the population of the U.S., the report said. Michael Graff, Axios, 23 Oct. 2024 Each electron wave has a momentum that is inversely proportional to its wavelength and a kinetic energy proportional to the square of its momentum. Douglas Natelson, Scientific American, 19 Mar. 2024
Adjective
An additional complicating factor is recent electoral reform, which means the 150 seats in Georgia’s parliament will be awarded under a fully proportional system, with parties needing to surpass a 5% threshold to win seats. Holly Ellyatt, CNBC, 25 Oct. 2024 That’s about 2 percent of the Gaza Strip’s entire population, the proportional equivalent of 6.5 million Americans dying in a war. Zack Beauchamp, Vox, 4 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for proportional 

Word History

Etymology

Noun

borrowed from Late Latin prōportiōnāle, noun derivative from neuter of prōportiōnālis proportional entry 2

Adjective

Middle English proporcional, proporcionel, borrowed from Middle French & Late Latin; Middle French proporcionel, borrowed from Late Latin prōportiōnālis, from Latin prōportiōn-, prōportiō "analogy, proper spatial relation between parts" + -ālis -al entry 1 — more at proportion entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

1570, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of proportional was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near proportional

Cite this Entry

“Proportional.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/proportional. Accessed 24 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

proportional

adjective
pro·​por·​tion·​al
p(r)ə-ˈpōr-shnəl,
-ˈpȯr-,
-shən-ᵊl
1
a
: being equivalent in size, amount, or strength
b
: having the same or a constant ratio
2
: set with reference to proportions
proportionality
-ˌpōr-shə-ˈnal-ət-ē
-ˌpȯr-
noun
proportionally
-ˈpōr-shnə-lē
-ˈpȯr-
-shən-ᵊl-ē
adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on proportional

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