What does respectively mean?
Respectively is an adverb used to connect two or more items with corresponding people, things, or actions. It makes clear that the order of the items in the second part matches the order of the items in the first part. For example, “Alice and Bob sat in the first and second rows, respectively” means that Alice sat in the first row and Bob sat in the second. The word is especially useful in formal writing, technical descriptions, academic contexts, and announcements where exact correspondence matters. It is often confused with the adjective “respective,” which describes something belonging to each person or thing mentioned, but “respectively” performs the matching itself. Although “in that order” can provide a less formal alternative, “respectively” is the more precise and established choice when the relationship between listed items must be unmistakable.
adverbUsed to indicate that two or more people, things, or groups correspond to one another in the order in which they have just been mentioned.
- Used after a list of two or more corresponding people, things, or actions to show that they match the preceding items in the same order.
"The red, blue, and green buttons control the first, second, and third settings respectively."
"The museum’s newest exhibits were painted by Turner, Monet, and Van Gogh respectively."
"Applicants should submit the originals and photocopies to the two offices respectively."
Respectively is the shortcut that tells readers which item matches which: first with first, second with second.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does respectively come from?
The word was formed in the early 19th century from “respective” and the adverbial suffix “-ly.” “Respective” comes from Latin respectively, meaning “respectively” or “in accordance,” derived from the Latin participle respectus, related to respicere, “to look back at” or “to regard.” The modern English sense developed from the established adjective use of “respective,” meaning “particular” or “belonging to each.”
How respectively is actually used
It is usually placed after the final item in a list, though it may also follow a complete list or clause. It is formal and precise rather than informal. In less formal writing, “in that order” can sometimes convey a similar idea.
Easily confused with respectively
“Respective” is an adjective meaning belonging to each of two or more people or things, while “respectively” is an adverb used to match items in the order in which they were listed.