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respective — Relating separately to each of the people or things mentioned. Used to indicate that different things apply to different people or items in the same order.

Part of speech: ADJECTIVE

Definition: Relating separately to each of the people or things mentioned. Used to indicate that different things apply to different people or items in the same order.

Pronunciation (IPA): /rɪˈspektɪv/

Example Sentences

  • The pizza slices went to their respective owners: Tom got pepperoni, Sarah got margherita, and Mike got the questionable pineapple one.
  • After the meeting, the team members returned to their respective departments to implement the new strategy.
  • The cats and dogs found their respective hiding spots when the vacuum cleaner appeared.

respective

ADJECTIVE

[/rɪˈspektɪv/]

Relating separately to each of the people or things mentioned. Used to indicate that different things apply to different people or items in the same order.

Relating separately to each of the people or things mentioned. Used to indicate that different things apply to different people or items in the same order.
💡 Concept

Relating separately to each of the people or things mentioned. Used to indicate that different things apply to different people or items in the same order.

At their respective posts: one protective, one detective!
🎵 Rhyme

At their respective posts: one protective, one detective!

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🎤Pronunciation

🇺🇸 US/rɪˈspektɪv/

🌳Etymology

Prefixre--
Rootspect
Suffix--ive

Origin

From Latin 'respectivus,' derived from 'respicere' meaning 'to look back' or 'to regard.' The word originally meant 'having relation to' but evolved to mean 'individual' or 'particular to each.'

Breakdown

re- (back/again) + spec- (to look/see) + -ive (adjective suffix meaning 'having the quality of')

🎵Rhyme

selectiveprotectiveeffective

📝Examples

😄 Fun example

“The pizza slices went to their respective owners: Tom got pepperoni, Sarah got margherita, and Mike got the questionable pineapple one.”

“After the meeting, the team members returned to their respective departments to implement the new strategy.”

😄 Fun example

“The cats and dogs found their respective hiding spots when the vacuum cleaner appeared.”

“The athletes represented their respective countries with pride at the Olympic Games.”

📚Related Words

Synonyms

individualseparateparticularspecificcorresponding

Antonyms

collectiveshared

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