commensurate

[ kuh-men-ser-it, -sher- ]

adjective

1. corresponding in amount, magnitude, or degree:

   Your paycheck should be commensurate with the amount of time worked.

2. proportionate; adequate:

   a solution commensurate to the seriousness of the problem.

3. having the same measure; of equal extent or duration.
4. having a common measure or divisor; commensurable.

commensurate

/ kəˈmɛnsərɪt; kəˌmɛnsəˈreɪʃən; -ʃə-; -ʃə- /

adjective

1. having the same extent or duration
2. corresponding in degree, amount, or size; proportionate
3. able to be measured by a common standard; commensurable

Derived Forms

• comˈmensurately, adverb
• comˈmensurateness, noun
• commensuration, noun

Other Words From

• com·mensu·rate·ly adverb
• com·mensu·rate·ness noun
• com·men·su·ra·tion [k, uh, -men-s, uh, -, rey, -sh, uh, n, -sh, uh, -], noun
• uncom·mensu·rate adjective
• uncom·mensu·rate·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of commensurate¹

1635–45; < Late Latin commēnsūrātus, equivalent to Latin com- com- + mēnsūrātus (past participle of mēnsūrāre to measure ); -ate ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of commensurate¹

C17: from Late Latin commēnsūrātus, from Latin com- same + mēnsurāre to measure

Example Sentences

It added in a statement this week: “Against a backdrop of long-term decline in funding, increased costs of this scale cannot be absorbed without a settlement for Scotland’s universities that is commensurate with the challenges we face.”

From BBC

He added: “The weight is the weight and entirely commensurate with the removal of all the tissue.”

From BBC

The burden will be on activists to demand actions commensurate with the realities described in The 2024 State of the Climate Report: “We are on the brink of an irreversible climate disaster. This is a global emergency beyond any doubt. Much of the very fabric of life on Earth is imperiled. We are stepping into a critical and unpredictable new phase of the climate crisis.”

From Salon

But at the same time, I think the measures are extremely draconian, and they’re not commensurate with what they’re alleging that I’ve done.

From Slate

Even participants who had “mild COVID-19 with resolved symptoms” exhibited deficits “commensurate with a 3-point loss in IQ” compared with uninfected participants.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• comparable
• compatible
• consistent
• proportionate
• sufficient