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analogous

[uh-nal-uh-guhs]
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adjective
  1. having analogy; corresponding in some particular: A brain and a computer are analogous.
  2. Biology. corresponding in function, but not evolved from corresponding organs, as the wings of a bee and those of a hummingbird.
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Origin of analogous

1640–50; < Latin analogus < Greek análogos proportionate, equivalent to ana- ana- + lóg(os) ratio + -os adj. suffix; see -ous
Related formsa·nal·o·gous·ly, adverba·nal·o·gous·ness, nounnon·a·nal·o·gous, adjectivenon·a·nal·o·gous·ly, adverbnon·a·nal·o·gous·ness, nounun·a·nal·o·gous, adjectiveun·a·nal·o·gous·ly, adverbun·a·nal·o·gous·ness, noun
Can be confusedanalogous analogical

Synonyms

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1. similar, alike, like, comparable, akin.

Antonyms

1. dissimilar.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words

akincomparablecorrespondingrelatedalikeconsonantconvertiblecorrespondentequivalenthomologousinterchangeablekindredlikeparallelresemblinguniformundifferentiated

Examples from the Web for analogous

Historical Examples

  • Analogous facts may be cited closer to us, easier to verify.

    Introduction to the Science of Sociology

    Robert E. Park

  • Analogous grouping is preferable where variety of hue is desirable.

    Industrial Arts Design

    William H. Varnum

  • Analogous services were organized by the French and the Italians.

    Meteorology

    Charles Fitzhugh Talman

  • Analogous observations on Triton by Jullien and Schreibers, 591.

  • Analogous to the medical mission are the missions to the blind and the deaf.

    Changing China

    William Gascoyne-Cecil

British Dictionary definitions for analogous

analogous

adjective
  1. similar or corresponding in some respect
  2. biology (of organs and parts) having the same function but different evolutionary originthe paddle of a whale and the fin of a fish are analogous Compare homologous (def. 4)
  3. linguistics formed by analogyan analogous plural
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Derived Formsanalogously, adverbanalogousness, noun

Word Origin

C17: from Latin analogus, from Greek analogos proportionate, from ana- + logos speech, ratio

usage

The use of with after analogous should be avoided: swimming has no event that is analogous to (not with) the 100 metres in athletics
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for analogous

adj.

1640s, from Latin analogus, from Greek analogos "proportionate, according to due proportion" (see analogy).

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
analogous in Medicine

analogous

(ə-năl′ə-gəs)
adj.
  1. Similar in function but not in structure and evolutionary origin.
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The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
analogous in Science

analogous

[ə-năl′ə-gəs]
  1. Similar in function but having different evolutionary origins, as the wings of a butterfly and the wings of a bird.
  2. Similar in chemical properties and differing in chemical structure only with respect to one element or group.
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The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.