adj · 5 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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Texas:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
Australian:/ɹɪˈspektɪv/
rhymes with -ɛktɪv
CMU ARPABET:R IH0 S P EH1 K T IH0 V
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
CMU ARPABET 2:R IY0 S P EH1 K T IH0 V
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
adj
Meaning 1
Relating to particular persons or things, each to each; particular; own.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: not-comparable
Examples
They returned to their respective places of abode.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
adj
Meaning 2
Noticing with attention; careful; wary.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: not-comparable, obsolete
Examples
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
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
adj
Meaning 3
Looking toward; having reference to; relative, not absolute.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: not-comparable, obsolete
Examples
the respective connections of society
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
4
adj
Meaning 4
Fitted to awaken respect.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: not-comparable, obsolete
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
5
adj
Meaning 5
Rendering respect; respectful; regardful.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: not-comparable, obsolete
Examples
a. 1598, William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley, instructions to his son Robert Cecil, when young With thy equals familiar, yet respective.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
History
Etymology
Borrowed from Medieval Latin respectivus, from Latin respectus. By surface analysis, respect + -ive.
Across languages
Translations
26 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Armenian:
համապատասխան
(hamapatasxan)
— referencing two or more things as individuals
Bulgarian:
съответен
(sǎotveten)
— referencing two or more things as individuals
Catalan:
respectiu
— referencing two or more things as individuals
Danish:
respektive
— referencing two or more things as individuals
Dutch:
achtereenvolgend
— referencing two or more things as individuals
Esperanto:
respektiva
— referencing two or more things as individuals
French:
respectif
— referencing two or more things as individuals
German:
jeweilig
— referencing two or more things as individuals
Greek:
αντίστοιχος
(antístoichos)
— referencing two or more things as individuals
Latvian:
attiecīgs
— referencing two or more things as individuals
Latvian:
atbilstošs
— referencing two or more things as individuals
Latvian:
piederīgs
— referencing two or more things as individuals
Malayalam:
അതത്
(atatŭ)
— referencing two or more things as individuals
Norwegian Bokmål:
respektiv
— referencing two or more things as individuals
Norwegian Nynorsk:
respektiv
— referencing two or more things as individuals
Polish:
poszczególny
— referencing two or more things as individuals
Polish:
odpowiedni
— referencing two or more things as individuals
Portuguese:
respectivo
— referencing two or more things as individuals
Portuguese:
respetivo
— referencing two or more things as individuals
Russian:
соотве́тствующий
(sootvétstvujuščij)
— referencing two or more things as individuals
Scottish Gaelic:
air leth
— referencing two or more things as individuals
Spanish:
respectivo
— referencing two or more things as individuals
Swedish:
respektiv
— referencing two or more things as individuals
Ukrainian:
відпові́дний
(vidpovídnyj)
— referencing two or more things as individuals
Vietnamese:
tương ứng
— referencing two or more things as individuals
Vietnamese:
riêng từng (người, cái, ...)
— referencing two or more things as individuals
