The principle of proportionality is the idea that an action should not be more severe than is necessary, especially in a war or when punishing someone for a crime.
[formal]
Nuclear weapons seem to violate the just war principle of proportionality.
He said there was a need for proportionality in sentencing.
Examples of 'proportionality' in a sentence
proportionality
How do you find that phone if you are not scouring broadly all the possibilities, while trying to make sure you use necessity and proportionality?
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Additionally, the proportionality exercise involved focusing on a very specific issue, namely the justification for discrimination.