proportional
1 of 2noun
pro·por·tion·al prə-ˈpȯr-shnəl 
-shə-nᵊl
: a number or quantity in a proportion
proportional
2 of 2adjective
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
prə-ˌpȯr-shə-ˈna-lə-tē
noun proportionally
prə-ˈpȯr-shnə-lē
adverb -shə-nᵊl-ē
Synonyms
Adjective
- commensurable
- commensurate
- proportionate
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
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
Fox News, 12 July 2022 In this case, the entropy is proportional to the three-dimensional volume of the box, not the area. Edgar Shaghoulian, Scientific American, 22 Aug. 2022 There are currently over 400 such cables, with speed of communications roughly proportional to the length of each cable. Isabelle Bousquette, WSJ, 15 June 2022 As a result, the Ohio constitution now requires that districts be shaped so that the makeup of the General Assembly is proportional to the political makeup of the state. Jane Mayer, The New Yorker, 6 Aug. 2022 When issuing sentences in cases that include multiple defendants, judges have to look at each defendant’s level of culpability and issue sentences that are proportional. Amy Forliti And Stephen Groves, The Christian Science Monitor, 29 July 2022 And the second is that Labour and the Liberal Democrats pass legislation that creates a proportional-representation system. Isaac Chotiner, The New Yorker, 12 July 2022 Many extreme, single-issue candidates running as independents came together to get on the proportional-representation ballot. Mary Anastasia O’grady, WSJ, 22 May 2022 If two shapes are similar, the angle measures are the same and the side lengths are proportional. Mark Wolfmeyer, Popular Mechanics, 25 May 2022 See More
Adjective
Prosecutors decided that the use of a knife was not a proportional response to a beating. Fox News, 12 July 2022 In this case, the entropy is proportional to the three-dimensional volume of the box, not the area. Edgar Shaghoulian, Scientific American, 22 Aug. 2022 There are currently over 400 such cables, with speed of communications roughly proportional to the length of each cable. Isabelle Bousquette, WSJ, 15 June 2022 As a result, the Ohio constitution now requires that districts be shaped so that the makeup of the General Assembly is proportional to the political makeup of the state. Jane Mayer, The New Yorker, 6 Aug. 2022 When issuing sentences in cases that include multiple defendants, judges have to look at each defendant’s level of culpability and issue sentences that are proportional. Amy Forliti And Stephen Groves, The Christian Science Monitor, 29 July 2022 And the second is that Labour and the Liberal Democrats pass legislation that creates a proportional-representation system. Isaac Chotiner, The New Yorker, 12 July 2022 Many extreme, single-issue candidates running as independents came together to get on the proportional-representation ballot. Mary Anastasia O’grady, WSJ, 22 May 2022 If two shapes are similar, the angle measures are the same and the side lengths are proportional. Mark Wolfmeyer, Popular Mechanics, 25 May 2022 See More Word History
First Known Use
Noun
1570, in the meaning defined above
Adjective
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Phrases Containing proportional
Kids Definition
proportional
adjective
pro·por·tion·al prə-ˈpȯr-shə-nəl
: having a direct relationship to something in size, number, or amount
The children received allowances proportional to their ages.
proportional
adjective
as in proportionate
corresponding in size, amount, extent, or degree the Web site's popularity increased exponentially, resulting in a proportional increase in advertising revenue Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- proportionate
- commensurate
- comparable
- balanced
- in proportion
- commensurable
- relative
- correlative
- symmetrical
- reciprocal
- symmetric
- similar
- dependent
- akin
- contingent
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- disproportionate
- asymmetric
- irregular
- asymmetrical
- twisted
- distorted
- unbalanced
- unsymmetrical
- lopsided
- nonsymmetrical