Word
proportional
Phoneticspro·por·tion·al, stress on the second syllable
US/pɹəˈpɔɹʃənəɫ/
UK/pɹəpˈɔːʃənəl/
Definitions
01matching in size or amount
B2 · Upper Intermediate Mathematics
adj. changing in size, amount, or degree according to something else.
adj. corresponding in size or amount to something else; maintaining a constant ratio as another variable changes.
“The punishment should be proportional to the crime.”
“The weight of the object is directly proportional to its mass, meaning that as mass increases, the weight increases at a constant rate.”
Usage
Often followed by the preposition 'to'.
Synonyms
Antonyms
02typography
C1 · Advanced Computing Technical
adj. describing a style of printing where different letters take up different amounts of space.
adj. relating to a typeface where characters have varying widths based on their natural shape, rather than a fixed width.
“Most books use a proportional font because it is easier to read than a typewriter style.”
“Proportional spacing allows the letter 'i' to occupy significantly less horizontal space than the letter 'm', resulting in a more aesthetically pleasing text block.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
03a proportion
C2 · Proficiency Countable noun Mathematics Archaic
n. an old word for a portion or a ratio.
n. a value or quantity that exists in a specific ratio to another.
“The old text discussed the mathematical proportional of the two circles.”
“In his early seventeenth-century treatise, the author calculates the exact proportional required to balance the architectural load.”
Teaching tip
This noun sense is extremely rare in modern English; learners should use 'proportion' or 'ratio' instead.
Synonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “proportional” in context.
Adjective
01. directly proportional
“The amount of energy produced is directly proportional to the amount of fuel consumed.”
adv + adj
02. proportional to
“The punishment should be proportional to the severity of the crime.”
adj + prep
Real-World Examples
“In the UK, the 2024 general election produced the country's least proportional result on record, with Labour securing 63% of the seats after receiving 33.7% of the vote.” “Dearden feels half a dozen hits is proportional to what would be expected.” Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
ADVERB
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/proportional