Proportionate
/prəˈpɔːʃənɪt/
Definitions
Corresponding in size, degree, or amount to something else; being in proportion.
/prəˈpɔːʃənɪt/
Corresponding in size or amount to something else.
The punishment for the offense was proportionate to the severity of the crime.
💡 Simply: Imagine you're making a cake. You need the right amount of sugar to match the flour, right? If you have too much sugar, the cake won't taste good. So, if something is proportionate, it means things are in the right *amounts* compared to each other, like the right amount of sugar to flour.
👶 For kids: If something is proportionate, it means it's the right size or amount compared to other things.
More Examples
The company's success was proportionate to its investment in research and development.
The increase in salary was proportionate to the employee's performance.
How It's Used
"The punishment should be proportionate to the crime."
"The investment returns were proportionate to the risk undertaken."
"The sides of the triangle are proportionate."
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms
From Latin *proportio* (proportion) + -ate (forming adjectives). The word entered English in the late 16th century.
The word has been used since the late 16th century, initially referring to the mathematical concept of proportion. It gradually expanded to include applications in fields like law and justice to describe balanced relationships.
Memory tip
Think of a *proportion wheel*: all the parts work *in proportion* to each other for the wheel to function.
Word Origin
"proportion, ratio"