proportional

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

A second principle that limits when deadly force can legally be used is proportionality: Shooting someone is only justified when it is a proportional response to the perceived threat.

From Slate • Mar. 27, 2026

This includes Massachusetts, where courts consider factors such as the characteristics of any weapon used when evaluating whether a self-defense shooting was proportional.

From Slate • Mar. 27, 2026

Each region elects seven members using a form of proportional representation.

From BBC • Mar. 24, 2026

Then there’s Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey’s proposal, which would let a married couple deduct the first $75,000 of income, with a proportional cut for individuals.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 12, 2026

The forces on the wires are proportional to their masses, which are proportional to their lengths.

From "Innumeracy: Mathematical Illiteracy and Its Consequences" by John Allen Paulos