Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

inversely proportional

adjective

Definition of inversely proportional 

: related by inverse variation — compare directly proportional

Examples of inversely proportional in a Sentence

The study indicates that the unemployment rate and inflation are inversely proportional.

Recent Examples on the Web

 Interestingly, that social force is related to the repulsive force between two electrons, which is inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them—in other words, the force decreases as the distance between the particles increases. — Evelyn Lamb, Smithsonian, "How Fluid Dynamics Can Help You Navigate Crowds," 17 Jan. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'inversely proportional.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of inversely proportional

1864, in the meaning defined above

Keep scrolling for more

Learn More about inversely proportional

Share inversely proportional

Resources for inversely proportional

Cite Time Traveler Time Traveler! Explore the year a word first appeared

Dictionary Entries near inversely proportional

inverse feedback

inverse function

inversely

inversely proportional

inverse point

inverse proportion

inverse ratio

Statistics for inversely proportional

Look-up Popularity

Time Traveler for inversely proportional

The first known use of inversely proportional was in 1864

See more words from the same year

Keep scrolling for more

More Definitions for inversely proportional

inversely proportional

adjective

English Language Learners Definition of inversely proportional

: related so that as one becomes larger the other becomes smaller

See the full definition for inversely proportional in the English Language Learners Dictionary

Comments on inversely proportional

What made you want to look up inversely proportional? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

Show Comments  Hide Comments 

WORD OF THE DAY

habiliment

characteristic trappings or dress

Get Word of the Day daily email!

Test Your Vocabulary

Name that Food Quiz

  • alt-573b465788319
  • Name these cookies!
True or False

Test your knowledge - and maybe learn something along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ
Word Winder's CrossWinder

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games