What does "ratio" mean?

1. (mathematical comparison) the relationship between two amounts, showing how many times one contains the other. 2. (social media engagement) a situation where a social media post has many more replies than likes, usually because people disagree with it. 3. (to outnumber with replies) to reply to a post in such large numbers that the replies outnumber the likes, usually to show the person is wrong.

How do you use "ratio"?

Often used with the preposition 'of' followed by 'to'. Commonly used in the passive voice ('to be ratioed').

ratio

n. · v.

US //ˈɹeɪʃiˌoʊ// UK //ɹˈeɪʃɪˌəʊ// ra·tio

1 mathematical comparison (n.)
B2 Upper Intermediate Academic Math

the relationship between two amounts, showing how many times one contains the other.

the quantitative relation between two amounts showing the number of times one value contains or is contained within the other.

Example

The ratio of boys to girls in the classroom is two to one.

Example

The financial analyst noted that the debt-to-equity ratio had reached a critical threshold, suggesting the company was over-leveraged.

Usage

Often used with the preposition 'of' followed by 'to'.
2 social media engagement (n.)
C1 Advanced Informal Slang Computing

a situation where a social media post has many more replies than likes, usually because people disagree with it.

the metric imbalance on a social media platform where the number of replies significantly exceeds the number of likes, typically indicating a negative public reception.

Example

His controversial tweet got a terrible ratio within minutes of being posted.

Example

The politician's attempt at humor backfired, resulting in a massive ratio that dominated the platform's trending topics for several hours.

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3 to outnumber with replies (v.)
C1 Advanced Informal Slang Computing

to reply to a post in such large numbers that the replies outnumber the likes, usually to show the person is wrong.

to cause a post to have a high ratio of replies to likes, often as a coordinated act of criticism or mockery.

Example

The celebrity was ratioed after making an insensitive comment about the news.

Example

Users on the platform often attempt to ratio accounts that spread misinformation as a form of community-led fact-checking.

Usage

Commonly used in the passive voice ('to be ratioed').

Origin

Borrowed from Latin ratiō. Doublet of ration and reason.