English Reference
Adverb

respectively

adv. sent.
C1 Advanced Oxford US /ɹɪˈspɛktɪvɫi/ UK /ɹɪspˈɛktɪvli/ re·spec·tive·ly

adv.in the same order as the people or things you just mentioned. You use this when you have two lists and want to show which item in the first list matches which item in the second list.

adv.separately and in the order already mentioned. Used to clarify the one-to-one correspondence between two parallel lists or sequences.


SIMPLE

The two winners were aged 10 and 12, respectively.

CONTEXTUAL

The sales and marketing departments are located on the third and fourth floors, respectively.

COMPLEX

In the final set of experiments, the control and test groups showed an increase in efficiency of 5% and 12%, respectively, confirming the hypothesis that the new catalyst was superior.

Usage

Typically placed at the end of a clause or sentence to clarify the relationship between two previously mentioned sets of information.

Don't confuse

respectively vs respectfully — Respectively links items in two lists by their order, while respectfully describes acting with politeness or honor.

Pitfall
The respectively prices are $5 and $10.The prices are $5 and $10, respectively.

Respectively is an adverb and cannot be used as an adjective before a noun; it must follow the items it refers to.

Usage respectively correspond · respectively denote · respectively overt

In the French Open and this year's Wimbledon, she only reached the fourth and third rounds respectively.

BBC News· 14 Aug 2026

The Arab States and North Africa continue to record the world’s highest youth unemployment rates at 26.2 and 22.6 per cent, respectively.

UN News· 11 Aug 2026

Common in science and sport writing


From respective + -ly.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Level C1 · Advanced
Frequency Common
Updated