Definition of "proportionality" [pro•por•tion•al•i•ty]

• The property of being proportional (noun)
• The principle that government action ought to be proportional to the ends achieved (e.g. the military should not be deployed to stop petty vandalism) (noun)
• The degree to which something is in proportion (noun)

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• "Under the laws of war, the term proportionality has a precise and strictly defined meaning."
• "Second, proportionality is not measured by the number of civilians actually killed, but rather by the risk posed."
• "This sense of proportionality is the second jus in bello criterion; it has to do almost entirely with the foreseen but unintended harm done to noncombatants and to noncombatant infrastructure."