juxtaposition
Americannoun
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an act or instance of placing close together or side by side, especially for comparison or contrast.
-
the state of being close together or side by side.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of juxtaposition
First recorded in 1655–65; from French, from Latin juxtā “near, bordering, side by side” + French position position; cf. joust ( def. )
Explanation
If a waiter served you a whole fish and a scoop of chocolate ice cream on the same plate, your surprise might be caused by the juxtaposition, or the side-by-side contrast, of the two foods. Any time unlike things bump up against each other, you can describe it as a juxtaposition. Imagine a funeral mourner telling jokes graveside, and you get the idea — the juxtaposition in this case is between grief and humor. Juxtaposition of two contrasting items is often done deliberately in writing, music, or art — in order to highlight their differences.
Vocabulary lists containing juxtaposition
Literary Devices & Figures of Speech - Introductory
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The AP English Exam: Rhetorical and Literary Terms 1
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Reading: Literature - Literary Devices & Figures of Speech - Middle School
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The nostalgic tone of the collection was captured by some attendees who praised the juxtaposition of pieces, resulting in fluid, less cinched silhouettes reminiscent of 1940s Hollywood.
From Barron's • May 14, 2026
“Fargo” found its humor in the juxtaposition between “Minnesota Nice” and the dark, criminal underbelly it explored.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 17, 2026
The juxtaposition of events — escalating geopolitical pressure abroad and the promotion of a high-profile combat sports spectacle at home — has drawn attention for its optics.
From Salon • Apr. 12, 2026
Common throughout the show is the juxtaposition of art that holds out optimistic visions of technology’s possibilities with works that put forward more depressing perspectives about the harms it can entail.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 20, 2026
In The Magnolia Jungle the juxtaposition of the best of these columns against a background of stark horror gives a striking effect.
From "Black Like Me" by John Howard Griffin
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
