Definition of COMMENSURATE (original) (raw)
1
: corresponding in size, extent, amount, or degree : proportionate
was given a job commensurate with her abilities
2
: equal in measure or extent : coextensive
lived a life commensurate with the early years of the republic
Did you know?
Commensurate comes from the Latin word for the act of measuring, mensūra. That noun is based on mensus, the past participle of the verb mētīrī," meaning "to determine the extent of."
Synonyms
Examples of commensurate in a Sentence
Because the effects of tobacco are slow—and iterative—and produce diseases that have other causes and explanations, often later in life, they seldom arouse fear commensurate with their impact. —
Allan M. Brandt, The Cigarette Century, (2007) 2009 The last of the string family, the double bass, is the largest of all and must be played standing. Because it is seen in jazz bands, it has recently taken on an importance more nearly commensurate with its size. —Aaron Copland, What to Listen for in Music, (1957) 1988 … athletes are rewarded commensurate with their fame, not their intrinsic talent … —Frank Deford, Sports Illustrated, 21 Dec. 1987 I find it interesting that the meanest life, the poorest existence, is attributed to God's will, but as human beings become more affluent, as their living standard and style begin to ascend the material scale, God descends the scale of responsibility at a commensurate speed. —Maya Angelou, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, 1969
Her new position came with a commensurate level of responsibility. was given a job commensurate with her abilities and experience
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Factors behind the potential bump for tax refunds include the Internal Revenue Service’s move to expand the tax bracket thresholds by about 5% in 2024, along with a commensurate increase in the standard deduction, said Chris Senyek, chief investment strategist at Wolfe, in a Friday report. —Darla Mercado, Cfp®, CNBC, 24 Jan. 2025 That's an undeniably big bump, one that's roughly commensurate with the increase in the number of CUDA cores. —Ars Technica, 24 Jan. 2025 Williams' level of play so far this year is more commensurate with that of a minimum player. —Sam Vecenie, The Athletic, 23 Jan. 2025 Frame cybersecurity discussions in terms of business risks and opportunities. Demonstrate how security initiatives support organizational goals. Compensation and Career Growth Trends Despite taking on broader responsibilities, most CISOs do not see commensurate increases in compensation. —Tony Bradley, Forbes, 14 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for commensurate 
Word History
Etymology
Late Latin commensuratus, from Latin com- + Late Latin mensuratus, past participle of mensurare to measure, from Latin mensura measure — more at measure
First Known Use
1641, in the meaning defined at sense 2
Time Traveler
The first known use of commensurate was in 1641
Dictionary Entries Near commensurate
Cite this Entry
“Commensurate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/commensurate. Accessed 12 Feb. 2025.
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Last Updated: 6 Feb 2025 - Updated example sentences
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