respective

adjective

re·​spec·​tive ri-ˈspek-tiv 

1

: particular, separate

their respective homes

2

obsolete : partial, discriminative

respectiveness noun

Synonyms of respective

• different
• separate

Examples of respective in a Sentence

it was late when the concert let out, so we all went our respective ways

Recent Examples on the Web

Along with Evers and legislative Republicans, he was involved in the push for a bipartisan bill to allow the city of Milwaukee and Milwaukee County to raise their sales tax rates and earn more revenue for their respective governments. — Maayan Silver, NPR, 4 Nov. 2026

National election night coverage from NBC News played on a big screen at the venue, and some early-arriving guests cheered when early results showed Democrats running in other states leading in their respective races. — Olivia Olander, Chicago Tribune, 4 Nov. 2026

Voters in Maryland and Missouri will consider proposals that would entail major changes to how congressional maps are drawn in their respective states. — Ian McKinney, CBS News, 3 Nov. 2026

Blumhouse and Atomic Monster will sit as separate labels underneath the larger company, with their respective teams developing movies and TV shows. — Aaron Couch, HollywoodReporter, 3 Nov. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1597, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Rhymes for respective

• advective
• affective
• collective
• connective
• convective
• corrective
• defective
• detective
• directive
• effective
• elective
• infective

Kids Definition

respective

adjective

re·​spec·​tive ri-ˈspek-tiv 

: not the same or shared : separate

they hurried to their respective homes