# respective

> English word · Adjective · IPA /ɹɪˈspɛktɪv/ · frequency rank #5,258

## Definitions
1. Relating to particular persons or things, each to each; particular; own.
2. Noticing with attention; careful; wary.
3. Looking toward; having reference to; relative, not absolute.
4. Fitted to awaken respect.
5. Rendering respect; respectful; regardful.

## Etymology
Borrowed from Medieval Latin respectivus, from Latin respectus. By surface analysis, respect + -ive.

## Easily confused with
- **respectively** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/respective-vs-respectively)
- **respecting** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/respecting-vs-respective)
- **reflective** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/reflective-vs-respective)

## Common misspellings (15)
`erspective`, `repsective`, `resepctive`, `respcetive`, `respecctive`, `respecitve`, `respectiev`, `respectivve`, `respecttive`, `respectvie`, `respetcive`, `resppective`, `resspective`, `rrespective`, `rsepective`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/respective