Language Research

proportion · noun

/prəˈpɔːr.ʃən/Full view

proportion

C1 C a part of a total number or amount

Dictionary examples:

Children make up a large proportion of the world's population.

The class consists of men and women in roughly equal proportions.

Learner example:

Still, a great proportion of those surveyed mentioned your friendly staff as your strong point. (Certificate in Advanced English; C1; Russian)

out of proportion

C2 If something is out of proportion, it is much bigger or smaller than it should be, when compared to other things.

Dictionary example:

The punishment is completely out of proportion to the crime.

Learner example:

If you were doing it to make a profit, I could understand, but for a library it is just out of proportion [and] I even believe more people could be attracted [if] the prices decrease. (Certificate of Proficiency in English; C2; Dutch)

in proportion to

C2 If something changes in proportion to another thing, it changes to the same degree as that thing.

Dictionary example:

Your tax payment increases in proportion to your salary.

Learner example:

One aspect of the question is the fact that a sportsman's salary is supposedly not in proportion to the number of hours he work[s]. (Certificate of Proficiency in English; C2; Swedish)