noun B1 Intermediate Common

proportion

pruh-PAW-shuhn

Proportion (noun) means the size or amount of one part of something compared with the whole. Example: “A large proportion of the budget goes toward staff salaries.”

noun

The size or amount of one part of something compared with the whole.

"A large proportion of the budget goes toward staff salaries."

"What proportion of students passed the exam?"

A balanced or harmonious relationship between the sizes of different parts.

"The architect designed the building with careful attention to proportion."

verb

To adjust the size or amount of something so it relates correctly to something else.

"The punishment should be proportioned to the severity of the crime."

How to use proportion

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA share of a whole, or the balanced relationship between parts and the whole.

Common pairings

a small proportion of in proportion to sense of proportion

Word forms

proportioned past tense, proportions plural, proportions singular

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Fill the gap

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A large _____ of the budget goes toward staff salaries.

Etymology

From Old French proportion, from Latin proportio, from pro ("for, relative to") + portio ("share, part") — the same root as "portion."

Origin: Latin

Synonyms

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ratio percentage fraction share portion balance

Related words

part bit deal cut rate share section percent

Rhymes for proportion

region ablation allusion emulsion ideation novation abortion abrasion diffusion elocution extension oxidation

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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.

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