proportional
gb/pɹəpˈɔɹʃənəl/ us/pɹəpˈɔɹʃənəl/
B2
English
~ 8100
Senses
0 senses
adjective
B2
property
1
corresponding in size or amount
Having a size or amount that changes in the same way as something else.
Usage pattern:
[something] is proportional to [something]
Common mistake:
Learners often confuse 'proportional' with 'proportionate'. In most modern use, they are interchangeable in this sense, but 'proportional to' is far more common as a set phrase. Learners also sometimes say *'proportional with'* instead of the correct preposition 'proportional to'.
Synonyms
commensurate (More formal; often used with abstract nouns like 'salary', 'penalty', or 'responsibility'.)
|
corresponding (Emphasizes matching level or degree, not always strict numerical relation.)
Antonyms
disproportionate (Emphasizes that the size or amount does not match or is not appropriate in relation to something else.)
|
excessive (Highlights that something is much too large compared with what is appropriate or needed.)
Collocations
proportional to
|proportional response
|proportional punishment
|proportional increase
|proportional cost
|proportional share
Themes
general
|measurement
|law
|business
|core_vocabulary
|education
Examples
- The fine should be proportional to the seriousness of the offense.
- Her workload is not proportional to her salary.
- Emergency measures must be proportional to the level of risk.
- The help each country gives should be proportional to its wealth.
- Media attention was hardly proportional to the actual importance of the story.
Learner examples
- The price is proportional to the size of the house.
- The punishment must be proportional to the crime.
- Her pay is not proportional to the hours she works.
- The tax is proportional to your income.
- The police used force that was not proportional to the threat.
adjective
technical
B2
relation
2
related by a constant ratio
Describes two numbers or amounts when one is always a fixed times the other number.
Usage pattern:
[quantity] is proportional to [quantity]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes say *'proportioned to'* instead of 'proportional to'. They may also confuse 'directly proportional' with 'inversely proportional'; 'directly' means both values move in the same direction, while 'inversely' means one goes up when the other goes down.
Synonyms
linear (In mathematics, often used when a straight-line relationship shows that two quantities are proportional.)
Antonyms
independent (In math and science, describes variables that do not change in relation to each other in a fixed way.)
|
nonlinear (Describes relationships that cannot be expressed as a simple constant ratio between quantities.)
Collocations
directly proportional
|inversely proportional
|proportional relationship
|proportional change
|roughly proportional
|strictly proportional
Themes
math
|science
|engineering
|education
Examples
- In this experiment, the pressure is directly proportional to the temperature.
- The area of a square is proportional to the square of its side length.
- The intensity of the signal is inversely proportional to the square of the distance.
- In a simple resistor, the current is proportional to the voltage.
- The graph shows that demand is roughly proportional to income in this range.
Learner examples
- In this formula, y is proportional to x.
- Speed is proportional to distance when time stays the same.
- The force is directly proportional to the mass.
- The brightness is inversely proportional to the distance.
- The chart shows a proportional relationship between the two values.
adjective
technical
C1
property
3
of fonts: variable character widths
Describes a style of text where thin letters like 'i' take less space than wide letters like 'm'.
Usage pattern:
[something] is a proportional font
Common mistake:
Learners may think 'proportional font' means 'correctly sized font' in a general sense. In computing and design contexts, it specifically refers to variable character widths, not just good or balanced sizing.
Synonyms
variable-width (Technical term in computing and typography that contrasts with 'fixed-width' or 'monospaced' fonts.)
Antonyms
monospaced (Describes fonts where every character has the same width, the opposite of proportional fonts.)
|
fixed-width (Another computing term meaning all characters take up equal horizontal space.)
Collocations
proportional font
|proportional typeface
|proportional spacing
|switch to a proportional font
|use proportional fonts
|non-proportional font
Themes
technology
|design
|computing
|communication
Examples
- Most modern word processors use proportional fonts by default.
- Proportional typefaces are generally easier to read in long paragraphs.
- For programming, many developers prefer monospaced fonts over proportional fonts.
- The logo uses a bold proportional font to create a friendly look.
- On this screen, menu text is displayed in a proportional typeface.
Learner examples
- This text uses a proportional font.
- In a proportional font, each letter can have a different width.
- A monospaced font is not proportional.
- Proportional fonts look better in books.
- Many websites use proportional typefaces for their main text.
Grammar
Dictionary form
proportional
IPA
GB/pɹəpˈɔɹʃənəl/
US/pɹəpˈɔɹʃənəl/
Syllables & stress
pro - por - tion - al (4 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (por)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: proportional
Word family
Core family
proportion
noun B1
proportionally
adverb C1
Related words
proportionate
adjective
proportionately
adverb
Negative and opposite forms
Advanced or less common
proportionality
noun C1
Expressions
inversely proportional to
1/ɪnvˈɚsli pɹəpˈɔɹʃənəl tə/
fixed phrase
technical
one increases as the other decreases
Used in math and science to say that when one thing goes up, the other thing goes down in a fixed way, and when one goes down, the other goes up.
Examples
- The time taken is inversely proportional to the speed.
- Light intensity from a source is inversely proportional to the square of the distance.
- The gas volume is inversely proportional to the pressure at constant temperature.
proportional representation
1/pɹəpˈɔɹʃənəl ɹˌɛpɹɪzɛntˈeɪʃən/
fixed phrase
formal
voting system matching seats to votes
A political voting system where parties win seats in a parliament in the same share as the number of votes they get.
Examples
- Many European countries use proportional representation in their elections.
- Supporters say proportional representation leads to fairer results.
- The party is campaigning to replace the current system with proportional representation.
proportional to
1/pɹəpˈɔɹʃənəl tə/
fixed phrase
in a matching amount compared with
Used to say that when one thing becomes bigger or smaller, another thing becomes bigger or smaller in a similar way.
Examples
- The bonus is proportional to your performance.
- The risk is proportional to the amount you invest.
- Their support should be proportional to their resources.
directly proportional to
1/dɪɹˈɛktli pɹəpˈɔɹʃənəl tə/
fixed phrase
technical
increases or decreases together at a constant ratio
Used in math and science to say that when one thing goes up, the other thing also goes up in a fixed way, and when one goes down, the other also goes down.
Examples
- In this law, pressure is directly proportional to temperature.
- The cost is directly proportional to the number of users.
- The current flowing through the resistor is directly proportional to the voltage.
directly proportional to
2/dɪɹˈɛktli pɹəpˈɔɹʃənəl tə/
fixed phrase
technical
changes at same rate as another thing
When one thing changes, another thing changes by the same rate or amount in the same direction.
Examples
- The cost is directly proportional to the amount you buy.
- In physics, acceleration is directly proportional to force.