ratio
noun
ra·tio
ˈrā-shē-ˌō 
-(ˌ)shō
plural ratios
1
a
: the indicated quotient of two mathematical expressions
b
: the relationship in quantity, amount, or size between two or more things : proportion
2
: the expression of the relative values of gold and silver as determined by a country's currency laws
Examples of ratio in a Sentence
What is the length-to-width ratio?
the ratio of students to teachers in the school is nine to one
Recent Examples on the Web
Richard Kaye, portfolio manager at Comgest, said SoftBank's assets still comfortably cover its debt obligations and that the company's loan-to-value ratio remains below 25%.
—
Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 4 June 2026
Last year, a university in southern China launched a specialized barbecue school to train grilling experts for the booming night food economy, enrolling only 30 students from more than 4,000 applicants — an acceptance ratio that rivals those of some of China’s most elite university programs.
—Erin Tan, NBC news, 3 June 2026
In January, the military implemented a strict waist-to-height body composition ratio, regardless of a troop’s particular role.
—Theresa Gaffney, STAT, 3 June 2026
The ratio’s limits matter, too.
—Samantha Agate, Charlotte Observer, 3 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for ratio
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Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 4 June 2026
Last year, a university in southern China launched a specialized barbecue school to train grilling experts for the booming night food economy, enrolling only 30 students from more than 4,000 applicants — an acceptance ratio that rivals those of some of China’s most elite university programs.
—Erin Tan, NBC news, 3 June 2026
In January, the military implemented a strict waist-to-height body composition ratio, regardless of a troop’s particular role.
—Theresa Gaffney, STAT, 3 June 2026
The ratio’s limits matter, too.
—Samantha Agate, Charlotte Observer, 3 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for ratio
Cite this Entry
“Ratio.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ratio. Accessed 5 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
ratio
noun
ra·tio
ˈrā-shō
-shē-ˌō
plural ratios
1
: the quotient of two numbers or mathematical expressions
the ratio of 6 to 3 may be expressed as 6:3, ⁶⁄₃, and 2
2
: the relationship in quantity, amount, or size between two or more things
women outnumbered men in the ratio of three to one
Medical Definition
ratio
noun
ra·tio
ˈrā-(ˌ)shō, -shē-ˌō
plural ratios
: the relationship in quantity, amount, or size between two or more things see sex ratio
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