Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

respective

/ɹɪˈspɛktɪv/

Word Rarity Uncommon

Frequency: Zipf frequency 4.19 in modern English

Syllables: re-spec-tive
IPA: /ɹɪˈspɛktɪv/

17

Scrabble Score

10

Letters

3

Syllables

8

Unique Chars

Meaning

adj

Relating to particular persons or things, each to each; particular; own.

adj

Noticing with attention; careful; wary.

Obsolete

adj

Looking toward; having reference to; relative, not absolute.

Obsolete

adj

Fitted to awaken respect.

Obsolete

adj

Rendering respect; respectful; regardful.

Obsolete

Example Sentences

"They returned to their respective places of abode."
"Adam and Novikovas swapped long-range efforts, neither of which troubled the respective keepers."
"Hitachi and CAF have begun a staged return to work at their respective Newton Aycliffe and Newport factories, having reduced output following the COVID-19 outbreak."
"c. 1559-1570, Edwin Sandys, letter to Bernard Gilpin But if you looke upon the estate of the church of England with a respective eye , you cannot with a good conscience refuse this charge imposed upon you"
"the respective connections of society"
"What should it be that he respects in her / But I can make respective in myself,"

Etymology

Borrowed from Medieval Latin respectivus, from Latin respectus. By surface analysis, respect + -ive.

Origin

Source language: Latin

Word Breakdown

Root: respectivus, respectus

Regional Pronunciation

American English: /ɹɪˈspɛktɪv/
British English: /ɹɪˈspɛktɪv/

Usage

Obsolete

Derived Forms

corespective disrespective irrespective respectively respectiveness unrespective

Synonyms

corresponding relevant specific several various

Rhymes With

effective perspective objective collective detective protective selective prospective subjective directive ineffective reflective

Questions

How do you pronounce respective?: The recorded pronunciation is /ɹɪˈspɛktɪv/.
What does respective mean?: Relating to particular persons or things, each to each; particular; own.
Where does respective come from?: It is traced to Latin.

How to pronounce respective

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “respective”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/ɹɪˈspɛktɪv/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
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