# ratio

/ˈɹeɪʃiˌoʊ/ (US) · /ɹˈeɪʃɪˌəʊ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/ratio
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. mathematical comparison

noun · CEFR B2 · Academic

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

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

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

noun · CEFR C1 · Informal · Slang

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

For teachers: 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.

- His controversial tweet got a terrible ratio within minutes of being posted.
- The politician's attempt at humor backfired, resulting in a massive ratio that dominated the platform's trending topics for several hours.

### 4. to outnumber with replies

verb · CEFR C1 · Informal · Slang

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

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

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

## Examples

- The ratio of boys to girls in the class is two to one.
- The school maintains a low student-to-teacher ratio to ensure every child receives individual attention.
- Financial analysts examine the debt-to-equity ratio to determine whether a company is over-leveraged and at risk of insolvency during a market downturn.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.