(ばいりつ)

ばいりつ
noun
magnification; competitive ratio
quantity
1. magnification; zoom level
The degree to which an optical device enlarges an image. Expressed as a multiple (e.g., 10(ばい)).
What is the magnification of this telescope?
When you increase the magnification, the image becomes blurry.
I observed cells with a high-magnification microscope.
2. competitive ratio; application-to-acceptance ratio
The ratio of applicants to available positions, used for exams, jobs, and other competitive selections. A higher number means stiffer competition.
The competitive ratio for this year's entrance exam was three to one.
Popular companies have extremely high application-to-hire ratios.
Some schools have competitive ratios exceeding ten to one.

Usage

In everyday Japanese, 倍率(ばいりつ) appears frequently in two very different contexts: optics and competition. Context makes the meaning clear.

Common collocations

Forms

(ばい) (times, fold) + (りつ) (rate, ratio). The (りつ) suffix is productive in forming ratio/rate words: 確率(かくりつ) (probability), 利率(りりつ) (interest rate).