corresponding

corresponding — adjective

1. describing a direct link between two things, so that one matches the other in po

1.adjectiveB2
Definition

describing a direct link between two things, so that one matches the other in position, amount, or time, or one happens as a result of the other — for example, a corresponding rise in prices after a production cut, or a corresponding chapter in a different book.

Example

Sales increased by 15 percent, and the company reported a corresponding rise in profits.

corresponding + noun (rise/increase/improvement)

Each painting in the gallery had a corresponding label with the artist's name and the date.

attributive use before a noun

Common collocations
  • corresponding rise
  • corresponding increase
  • corresponding changes
  • corresponding section
  • corresponding entry
  • corresponding period
Synonyms
  • matching

    more general and common; focuses on sameness or fitting together

  • equivalent

    suggests equal value, amount, or function, often in different systems

  • parallel

    emphasises similarity of development or pattern over time

  • related

    broader; does not imply matching, only a connection

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

corresponding + noun (attributive)

corresponding + noun + in + noun phrase

Usage Note

This adjective is most often used attributively (before a noun). For example, you say 'a corresponding increase' rather than 'the increase was corresponding'. The phrase 'corresponding to' often introduces the thing that is matched or linked.

Common Mistakes

I sent a correspondent email.
I sent a corresponding email.
'correspondent' is a noun meaning a person who writes letters or reports; 'corresponding' is the adjective meaning matching or related.
The two numbers are corresponding.' (unnatural predicative use)
The corresponding numbers are equal.
'corresponding' is not commonly used after 'be' in modern English.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

All four words describe some form of connection between two things, but they differ in emphasis. 'Matching' is the most general and everyday — it simply means two things are the same in some respect (matching socks, matching information). 'Equivalent' shifts the focus to value or function: two things are equivalent if they serve the same purpose or have the same effect, even if they look different (a dollar is equivalent to 100 cents). 'Parallel' highlights similarity in development or structure over time (parallel careers, parallel arguments). 'Related' is the broadest of the four — any kind of link, causal or not, counts as a relation, so it is often too vague when you need to express precise matching. For 'corresponding', the closest fit is usually 'matching' (for position/identity) or 'equivalent' (for value/function), while 'parallel' works best for long-term patterns and 'related' for any general connection.

matching ↗equivalent ↗parallelrelated ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • corresponding to
  • the corresponding

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

Derived from the verb 'correspond', which came into English from French 'correspondre' and directly from medieval Latin 'correspondere', meaning 'to answer to, agree with'. The Latin root breaks down as 'com-' (together, with each other) + 'respondere' (to answer). The adjective 'corresponding' developed naturally from the verb in the 1600s, originally carrying the sense of 'answering to' something in position or function.