A proportion of a group or an amount is a part of it.
[formal]
A large proportion of the dolphins in that area will eventually die. [+ of]
A proportion of the rent is met by the city council. [+ of]
Synonyms: part, share, cut [informal], amount More Synonyms of proportion
2. countable noun [usually singular]
The proportion of one kind of person or thing in a group is the number of people or things of that kind compared to the total number of people or things in the group.
The proportion of women in the profession had risen to 17.3%. [+ of]
The radio station has to include a substantial proportion of classical music.
Synonyms: relative amount, relationship, distribution, ratio More Synonyms of proportion
3. countable noun
The proportion of one amount to another is the relationship between the two amounts in terms of how much there is of each thing.
Women's bodies tend to have a higher proportion of fat to water. [+ to]
4. plural noun
If you refer to the proportions of something, you are referring to its size, usually when this is extremely large.
[written]
In the tropics plants grow to huge proportions.
...a fraud of breathtaking proportions.
5. plural noun
If you refer to the proportions in a work of art or design, you are referring to the relative sizes of its differentparts.
You can vary the relative proportions of things in a picture very simply.
6.
See in proportion to
7.
See in proportion to
8.
See out of all proportion to
9.
See out of proportion/in proportion
10.
See sense of proportion
More Synonyms of proportion
proportion in British English
(prəˈpɔːʃən)
noun
1.
the relationship between different things or parts with respect to comparative size, number, or degree; relative magnitude or extent; ratio
2.
the correct or desirable relationship between parts of a whole; balance or symmetry
3.
a part considered with respect to the whole
4. (plural)
dimensions or size
a building of vast proportions
5.
a share, part, or quota
6. mathematics
a relationship that maintains a constant ratio between two variable quantities
x increases in direct proportion to y
7. mathematics
a relationship between four numbers or quantities in which the ratio of the first pair equals the ratio of the second pair
verb(transitive)
8.
to adjust in relative amount, size, etc
9.
to cause to be harmonious in relationship of parts
Derived forms
proportionable (proˈportionable)
adjective
proportionability (proˌportionaˈbility)
noun
proportionably (proˈportionably)
adverb
proportionment (proˈportionment)
noun
Word origin
C14: from Latin prōportiō (a translation of Greek analogia), from phrase prō portione, literally: for (its, his, one's) portion
proportion in American English
(prəˈpɔrʃən; proʊˈpɔrʃən)
noun
1.
the comparative relation between parts, things, or elements with respect to size, amount, degree, etc.; ratio
2.
a part, share, or portion, esp. in its relation to the whole; quota
3.
relationship between parts or things; esp., harmonious, proper, or desirable relationship; balance or symmetry
4.
size, degree, or extent relative to a standard
5. [pl.]
dimensions
a building of large proportions
6. Ancient Mathematics
a.
an equality between ratios; relationship between four quantities in which the quotient of the first divided by the second is equal to that of the third divided by the fourth (Ex.: 6 is to 2 as 9 is to 3)
: also called geometrical proportion
b.
rule of three
verb transitive
7.
to cause to be in proper relation, harmony, or balance
to proportion the punishment to the crime
8.
to arrange the parts of (a whole) so as to be harmonious or properly balanced
SIMILAR WORDS: ˈsymmetry
Derived forms
proportionment (proˈportionment)
noun
Word origin
ME proporcioun < MFr proporcion < L proportio < pro, for1 + portio, part: see UNRESOLVED CROSS REF
COBUILD Collocations
proportion
direct proportion
epic proportions
fair proportion
large proportion
similar proportion
sizeable proportion
small proportion
substantial proportion
tiny proportion
Examples of 'proportion' in a sentence
proportion
Suppliers with the highest proportion of complaints suffered the biggest number of defections.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Polls suggest that extremist parties are tempting a growing proportion of disgruntled voters.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The scale of the problem is partly the result of the large proportion of people who survive combat.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
You get classical proportions, with modern extras.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
I was very happy to use this one in a huge proportion.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Although overseas pupils take only 5 per cent of places at independent schools they account for a significant proportion of boarding places.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The numbers have got larger but I doubt the proportions are very different.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
He also said that tracker funds, which own a huge proportion of listed companies, needed to do more.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
My wife and I have a quality test: the quality of the hotel is in direct proportion to the size of the towels.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Or at least three of four different sets of proportions.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
The payout ratio measures the proportion of earnings that is paid out as dividends.
Charles A. D'Ambrosio & Stewart D. Hodges & Richard Brealey & Stewart Myers Principles of Corporate Finance (1991)
In some rural areas the proportion of second homes is very high.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
The second is that they are letting in a larger proportion.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
The difference is essentially in the relative proportion of the two.
Bee, Helen The Developing Child (7th edn.) (1995)
The proportion of people voting for the two larger parties has gone down remorselessly.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Its proportions vary from system to system.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
They know they will grow in direct proportion to their competence.
Hopkins, Tom The Guide to Greatness in Sales (1994)
This includes cutting out added salt and reducing the proportion of fat in the diet.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
There will be no limit on the number or proportion of top grades.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
The rich are already paying an extremely high proportion of income taxes.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
They may also expect you to pay a significant proportion of treatment costs.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
They were only a small proportion of the total victims.
Grenville, J. A. S. The Collins History of the World in the 20th Century (1994)
And a growing proportion of those seeking help are women.
The Sun (2006)
They are made to measure around the wearer to ensure both the balance and proportion works.
The Sun (2008)
Thus a relatively small amount of land can do service out of all proportion to its size.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
In some areas the proportion is much higher.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Their proportions were different because first of all they had to fight to be allowed to live as loving humans.
Paul Preston DOVES OF WAR: Four Women of Spain (2002)
Not only is this a crisis of huge proportions but one that is not going to be sorted out in a hurry.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
It has left a huge proportion of Greeks with no money to spend.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
The beta of the asset increases in proportion to the ratio of the value of the fixed costs to the value of the asset.
Charles A. D'Ambrosio & Stewart D. Hodges & Richard Brealey & Stewart Myers Principles of Corporate Finance (1991)
We urge the Government to protect this building from destruction because of its harmonious architectural proportions and compelling social history.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
A food which contains all the essential amino acids in the correct proportions is known as a high biological value protein.
Chapman, C. & Horsley, M. & Small, E. Technology Basic Facts (1990)
The frontage is of perfect Classical proportions, with tall sash windows on both storeys.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Today, the proportion is 56%.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
In other languages
proportion
British English: proportion /prəˈpɔːʃən/ NOUN
A proportion of an amount or group is a part of it.
...the largest proportion of the aid money.
American English: proportion
Arabic: نِسْبَة
Brazilian Portuguese: proporção
Chinese: 比例
Croatian: udio
Czech: část
Danish: del
Dutch: deel
European Spanish: proporción
Finnish: osuus
French: proportion
German: Anteil
Greek: αναλογία
Italian: proporzione
Japanese: 比率
Korean: 비율
Norwegian: forhold
Polish: proporcja
European Portuguese: proporção
Romanian: proporție
Russian: пропорция
Latin American Spanish: proporción
Swedish: proportion
Thai: สัดส่วน
Turkish: oran
Ukrainian: пропорція
Vietnamese: tỷ lệ
All related terms of 'proportion'
fair proportion
A proportion of a group or an amount is a part of it.
tiny proportion
A proportion of a group or an amount is a part of it.
direct proportion
You use direct to emphasize the closeness of a connection between two things.
large proportion
A proportion of a group or an amount is a part of it.
similar proportion
A proportion of a group or an amount is a part of it.
small proportion
A proportion of a group or an amount is a part of it.
continued proportion
→ geometric progression
in proportion to
If one thing increases or decreases in proportion to another thing, it increases or decreases to the same degree as that thing.
sizeable proportion
A proportion of a group or an amount is a part of it.
substantial proportion
A proportion of a group or an amount is a part of it.
sense of proportion
If someone has a sense of proportion , they know what is really important and what is not.
out of proportion/in proportion
If you get something out of proportion , you think it is more important or worrying than it really is. If you keep something in proportion , you have a realistic view of how important it is.
out of all proportion to
If you say that something is out of all proportion to something else, you think that it is far greater or more serious than it should be.