equivalence

[ ih-kwiv-uh-luhns or, for 3, ee-kwuh-vey-luhns ]
See synonyms for equivalence on Thesaurus.com
nounAlso equivalency (for defs. 1, 2).
  1. the state or fact of being equivalent; equality in value, force, significance, etc.

  2. an instance of this; an equivalent.

  1. Chemistry. the quality of having equal valence.

  2. Logic, Mathematics.

    • Also called material implication. the relation between two propositions such that the second is not false when the first is true.

    • Also called material equivalence. the relation between two propositions such that they are either both true or both false.

    • the relation between two propositions such that each logically implies the other.

adjective
  1. (of a logical or mathematical relationship) reflexive, symmetrical, and transitive.

Origin of equivalence

1
1535–45; <Middle French <Medieval Latin aequivalentia, equivalent to Latin aequivalent-equivalent + -ia-ia; see -ence

Other words from equivalence

  • non·e·quiv·a·lence, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

British Dictionary definitions for equivalence

equivalence

equivalency

/ (ɪˈkwɪvələns) /


noun
  1. the state of being equivalent or interchangeable

  2. maths logic

    • the relationship between two statements, each of which implies the other

    • Also called: biconditional the binary truth-function that takes the value true when both component sentences are true or when both are false, corresponding to English if and only if . Symbol: ≡ or ↔, as in –(pq) ≡ – p ∨ – q

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