respectively

[ ri-spek-tiv-lee ]

adverb

1. (of two or more things) referring or applying to two or more things previously mentioned in a parallel or sequential way:

   Joe and Bob escorted Betty and Alice, respectively.

2. in precisely the order given; sequentially.

respectively

/ rɪˈspɛktɪvlɪ /

adverb

1. (in listing a number of items or attributes that refer to another list) separately in the order given

   he gave Janet and John a cake and a chocolate respectively

Word History and Origins

Origin of respectively¹

First recorded in 1550–60; respective + -ly

Example Sentences

Matthew Stafford and Sean McVay never played in New England with the Rams, but they did lose there as members of Detroit and Washington, respectively.

From Los Angeles Times

Matthew Stafford and Sean McVay never played in New England with the Rams, but they did lose there as members of Detroit and Washington, respectively.

From Los Angeles Times

Buck was eventually charged and convicted with supplying drugs to Gemmel Moore, 26, and Timothy Dean, 55, who died of overdoses at his home in 2017 and 2019, respectively.

From Los Angeles Times

But he kept his streak of never winning an acting Oscar intact: Morgan Freeman and Hilary Swank would win the supporting actor and lead actress trophies, respectively, while Eastwood had to be content with just being nominated in that category.

From Los Angeles Times

Two Republicans said to be weighing campaigns, Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco and state Sen. Brian Dahle, who ran against Newsom in 2022, were the first or second choice of 12% and 11% of registered voters, respectively.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• categorically
• clearly
• correctly
• definitely
• especially
• exactly
• explicitly
• individually
• pointedly
• precisely
• specially