proportion
9 synonyms and 1 antonym for proportion, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — The size or amount of one part of something compared with the whole.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
proportionality
Antonyms
How to use proportion
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
a small proportion of
in proportion to
sense of proportion
Etymology
From Old French proportion, from Latin proportio, from pro ("for, relative to") + portio ("share, part") — the same root as "portion."
Full origin of proportion →Frequently asked questions
What does “proportion” mean?
The word “proportion” means the size or amount of one part of something compared with the whole. In plain terms, a share of a whole, or the balanced relationship between parts and the whole.
How do you pronounce “proportion”?
“Proportion” is pronounced pruh-PAW-shuhn (/pɹəˈpɔɹʃən/ in IPA).
How do you use “proportion” in a sentence?
Here is “proportion” used in a sentence: “A large proportion of the budget goes toward staff salaries.”
What part of speech is “proportion”?
Depending on how it is used, “proportion” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “proportion” come from?
The word “proportion” comes from Latin. From Old French proportion, from Latin proportio, from pro ("for, relative to") + portio ("share, part") — the same root as "portion.".
Is “proportion” a common word?
“Proportion” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “proportion” have?
“Proportion” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the size or amount of one part of something compared with the whole.
What is the difference between "proportion" and "ratio"?
A ratio compares two separate quantities to each other (for example 3:1), while a proportion compares one part with the whole (three out of four). A proportion is often expressed as a fraction or percentage of a total.
What is the difference between "proportion" and "percentage"?
A percentage is a proportion expressed out of 100, whereas a proportion can be given as a fraction, a decimal, or in words ("a large proportion"). Every percentage is a proportion, but not every proportion is stated as a percentage.
