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

The Detroit native was brought in as a depth piece in 2025, but started this season with starting safeties Kerby Joseph and Brian Branch still recovering from their respective injuries. — Christian Romo, Freep.com, 22 Sep. 2026

Similarly to De Soto, residents in Emporia, El Dorado, Ottawa, Osawatomie and Edgerton have formed their own coalitions and circulated petitions to ban data centers in their respective communities. — Taylor O'Connor, Kansas City Star, 22 Sep. 2026

As heads of their respective agencies, Vought and Bhattacharya presumably have other duties and would be hard-pressed to give each proposal a serious evaluation. — John Timmer, ArsTechnica, 21 Sep. 2026

Between a courier caught in the middle of a zombie virus outbreak and a scuba diver swallowed whole by a sperm whale, both films put Abrams’ respective lead characters, Bryan and Jay, through uniquely harrowing one-man crucibles. — Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 21 Sep. 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