Respective means relating or belonging separately to the individual people you have just mentioned.
Steve and I were at very different stages in our respective careers.
They went into their respective bedrooms to pack.
Synonyms: specific, own, several [formal], individual More Synonyms of respective
respective in British English
(rɪˈspɛktɪv)
adjective
1.
belonging or relating separately to each of several people or things; several
we took our respective ways home
2. an archaic word for respectful
Derived forms
respectiveness (reˈspectiveness)
noun
respective in American English
(rɪˈspɛktɪv)
adjective
1.
as relates individually to each of two or more persons or things; several
they went their respective ways
2. Obsolete
worthy of respect
3. Obsolete
heedful; attentive
Word origin
ML respectivus < L respectus: see respect
Examples of 'respective' in a sentence
respective
All the top nine feature bosses who have been at their respective clubs at least from last season.
The Sun (2016)
Both won the Champions League in their debut seasons with their respective clubs.
The Sun (2016)
Not to mention the problems built into their respective governments.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
What came out of that shared experience is our respective careers.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
We could be picking up wages at our respective clubs while playing for the reserves.
The Sun (2009)
The body language of the respective managers told its own tale.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
The pastor was introducing the deacons and their respective roles.
Christianity Today (2000)
This is a story of two men at different stages of their respective careers.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Today will see another couple of clubs claiming their respective pools.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Each of these classes bring a new play style to their respective roles.
The Sun (2015)
This documentary tells the story of their relationship and the way it informed their respective careers.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Times have changed since then and their respective clubs are now poles apart.
The Sun (2008)
Each man could transform their respective clubs.
The Sun (2012)
She said that neither the passage of time nor other matters had dimmed the public interest in their respective careers.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Entering this weekend, both clubs cling with trepidation to fourth position in their respective leagues.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Diplomats on both sides have been expelled and the respective governments have withheld co-operation on security.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
In the end, it was down to what the respective managers could get out of them.
The Sun (2012)
As a game this offered little, as a training exercise the respective managers will have gleaned something.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Her general directions were without fault and she had taken care to ensure that the jury understood the respective roles of judge and jury.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
England's players stepped back out on to fields around the country for their respective clubs over the weekend.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
During the three months since talks took place, the respective positions of player and club have become increasinglyentrenched.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Neither happens to be French, but neither has played for his respective country.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Second, withdrawal of the two German governments from their respective alliances.
Dyson, Freeman Infinite in All Directions (1989)
After the Games, it will be dismantled and each petal sent to its respective country.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Great difficulties ensued, since no preparatory work of any kind had been done either by the delegations of the countries or by the respective governments.
Bramwell, Anna C Refugees in the Age of Total War (1988)
Both of these philosophers had powerful reasons, as we shall see, for holding to their respective positions.
Boyne, Roy Foucault and Derrida - The Other Side Of Reason (1990)
In other languages
respective
British English: respective ADJECTIVE
Respective means relating or belonging separately to the individual people you have just mentioned.
We were at very different stages in our respective careers.
American English: respective
Brazilian Portuguese: respectivo
Chinese: 各自的
European Spanish: respectivo
French: respectif
German: jeweilig
Italian: rispettivo
Japanese: それぞれの
Korean: 각각의
European Portuguese: respetivo
Latin American Spanish: respectivo
Chinese translation of 'respective'
respective
(rɪsˈpɛktɪv)
adj
分别(別)的 (fēnbié de)
(adjective)
Definition
relating separately to each of several people or things
They went into their respective bedrooms.
Synonyms
specific
Send your résumé with a covering letter that is specific to that particular job.
own
several (formal)
individual
We develop our own individual style of writing.
personal
That's my personal property!
particular
What particular aspects of the job are you interested in?
various
separate
The two things are separate and mutually irrelevant.
relevant
corresponding
Additional synonyms
in the sense of individual
Definition
separate or distinct from others of its kind
We develop our own individual style of writing.
Synonyms
distinctive,
special,
personal,
particular,
specific,
characteristic,
distinguishing,
distinct,
signature,
peculiar,
respective,
idiosyncratic,
personalized,
own,
several
in the sense of particular
Definition
of, belonging to, or being one person or thing
What particular aspects of the job are you interested in?
Synonyms
specific,
special,
express,
exact,
precise,
distinct,
peculiar
in the sense of personal
Definition
belonging to, or for the sole use of, a particular individual
That's my personal property!
Synonyms
own,
special,
private,
individual,
particular,
peculiar,
privy (archaic)
Synonyms of 'respective'
respective
Explore 'respective' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of separate
Definition
existing or considered independently
The two things are separate and mutually irrelevant.