pro rata
adverb
-ˈrä-
-ˈra-
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The Latin phrase prō ratā, meaning "in proportion," is a shortening of prō ratā parte/portiōne, meaning "according to the fixed proportion." English users borrowed the shorter phrase in the 16th century, dropping the diacritics along the way, and began applying the term in contexts formal enough that Latin doesn't seem too out of place: in finance and law. There pro rata refers to distributing or allocating a quantity proportionately—for example, dividing up an annual interest rate pro rata into monthly rates; distributing pro rata a profit amongst shareholders; paying part-time employees pro rata (according to full-time pay); or allocating liability for a defective product pro rata. In the early 19th century, pro rata demonstrated its usefulness as an adjective, as in "a pro rata share" or "pro rata distribution." The verb prorate (based on pro rata) followed soon thereafter. Incidentally, the familiar noun and verb rate (as in "tax rates" and "rating on a scale of 1 to 5") also trace back to Latin prō ratā parte, but they entered the language back in the 15th century by way of Anglo-French.
Examples of pro rata in a Sentence
Lauren Giella, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Oct. 2025
However, this amount may be reduced or increased on a pro rata basis, depending on the number of valid claims and their value.
—Brian Sloan, CNBC, 14 Oct. 2025
Typical individual refunds are expected to be about $51 from the $1.5 billion customer fund, subject to pro rata adjustments if validated claims exceed available funds.
—Ashley Lutz, Fortune, 26 Sep. 2025
Again, there is an option for a pro rata share of the AT&T 2 Net Settlement Fund cash.
—Kate O'Flaherty, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pro rata
Cite this Entry
“Pro rata.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pro%20rata. Accessed 27 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
pro rata
adverb
-ˈrät-ə
Legal Definition
pro rata
adverb
Latin
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