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Respective vs Respectively - What's the difference?

respective | respectively |

As an adjective respective

is relating to particular persons or things, each to each; particular; own.

As an adverb respectively is

in a relative manner; often used when comparing lists, where the term denotes that the items in the lists correspond to each other in the order they are given.

respective

English

Adjective

(-)
  • Relating to particular persons or things, each to each; particular; own.
    • They returned to their respective places of abode.
  • * {{quote-news
    • , year=2012 , date=August 23 , author=Alasdair Lamont , title=Hearts 0-1 Liverpool , work=BBC Sport citation , page= , passage=Adam and Novikovas swapped long-range efforts, neither of which troubled the respective keepers.}}
  • (obsolete) Noticing with attention; careful; wary.
  • * Archbishop Sandys
    • If you look upon the church of England with a respective eye, you can not refuse this charge.
  • (obsolete) Looking toward; having reference to; relative, not absolute.
    • the respective connections of society
  • (obsolete) Fitted to awaken respect.
  • * 1599 , , IV. iv. 192:
    • What should it be that he respects in her / But I can make respective in myself,
  • (obsolete) Rendering respect; respectful; regardful.
  • * Chapman
    • With respective shame, rose, took us by the hands.
  • * Lord Burleigh
    • With thy equals familiar, yet respective .

    Synonyms

    * (relating to particular persons or things) corresponding, relevant, specific

    Derived terms

    * respectiveness * irrespective

    respectively

    English

    Alternative forms

    *

    Adverb

    (en adverb)
  • In a relative manner; often used when comparing lists, where the term denotes that the items in the lists correspond to each other in the order they are given.
    • ''Serena Williams and Roger Federer won the women's and men's singles titles, respectively , at the 2010 Australian Open.
  • * {{quote-news
    • , year=2011 , date=November 5 , author=Phil Dawkes , title=QPR 2 - 3 Man City , work=BBC Sport citation , page= , passage=Despite of the absence of Shaun Derry and Adel Taarabt because of illness and injury respectively , the home side began superbly. Helguson twice threatened early on with shots from the right-hand corner of the box before Anton Ferdinand spurned a great chance at the back post following the Icelandic striker's header back across goal.}}

    See also

    * respective * irrespectively