commensurate

com·men·su·rate

adjective \kə-ˈmen(t)s-rət, -ˈmen(t)sh-; -ˈmen(t)-sə-, -shə-\

Definition of COMMENSURATE

1

: equal in measure or extent : coextensive <lived a life commensurate with the early years of the republic>

2

: corresponding in size, extent, amount, or degree : proportionate <was given a job commensurate with her abilities>

3

: commensurable 1

— com·men·su·rate·ly adverb

— com·men·su·ra·tion \-ˌmen(t)-sə-ˈrā-shən, -shə-\ noun

Examples of COMMENSURATE

1. Her new position came with a commensurate level of responsibility.
2. <was given a job commensurate with her abilities and experience>
3. … athletes are rewarded commensurate with their fame, not their intrinsic talent … —Frank Deford, Sports Illustrated, 21 Dec. l987
4. Because the effects of tobacco are slow—and iterative—and produce diseases that have other causes and explanations, often later in life, they seldom arouse fear commensurate with their impact. —Allan M. Brandt, The Cigarette Century, (2007) 2009
5. I find it interesting that the meanest life, the poorest existence, is attributed to God's will, but as human beings become more affluent, as their living standard and style begin to ascend the material scale, God descends the scale of responsibility at a commensurate speed. —Maya Angelou, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, 1969
6. The last of the string family, the double bass, is the largest of all and must be played standing. Because it is seen in jazz bands, it has recently taken on an importance more nearly commensurate with its size. —Aaron Copland, What to Listen for in Music, (1957) 1988

Origin of COMMENSURATE

Late Latin commensuratus, from Latin com- + Late Latin mensuratus, past participle of mensurare to measure, from Latin mensura measure — more at measure

First Known Use: 1641

Related to COMMENSURATE

Synonyms

commensurable, proportional, proportionate

Antonyms

disproportionate

Related Words

commeasurable; balanced, symmetrical (or symmetric); correlative, reciprocal; contingent, dependent, relative; akin, comparable, similar

Near Antonyms

asymmetrical (or asymmetric), distorted, irregular, lopsided, nonsymmetrical, twisted, unsymmetrical; unbalanced