analogous
Americanadjective
-
having analogy; corresponding in some particular.
A brain and a computer are analogous.
- Synonyms:
- akin, comparable, like, alike, similar
- Antonyms:
- dissimilar
-
Biology. corresponding in function, but not evolved from corresponding organs, as the wings of a bee and those of a hummingbird.
adjective
-
similar or corresponding in some respect
-
biology (of organs and parts) having the same function but different evolutionary origin Compare homologous
the paddle of a whale and the fin of a fish are analogous
-
linguistics formed by analogy
an analogous plural
-
Similar in function but having different evolutionary origins, as the wings of a butterfly and the wings of a bird.
-
Similar in chemical properties and differing in chemical structure only with respect to one element or group.
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
Other Word Forms
- analogously adverb
- analogousness noun
- nonanalogous adjective
- nonanalogously adverb
- nonanalogousness noun
- unanalogous adjective
- unanalogously adverb
- unanalogousness noun
Etymology
Origin of analogous
First recorded in 1640–50; from Latin analogus, from Greek análogos “proportionate,” equivalent to ana- ana- + lógos “ratio”
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.
"Light drifts in a quantized manner, following universal steps analogous to those seen with electrons under strong magnetic fields," said Philippe St-Jean, a physics professor at Université de Montréal and co author of the study.
From Science Daily • Mar. 1, 2026
Some readers imagine Kafka’s protagonist, Gregor Samsa, a hardworking salesman in a city that seems analogous to Kafka’s native Prague, has morphed into a cockroach.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 30, 2026
This would be analogous to having one arm tied behind your back.
From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 17, 2026
Qubits, meanwhile, are the basic units of information that encode data in a quantum machine, analogous to bits in traditional computers.
From Barron's • Oct. 21, 2025
In many ways the looming match was analogous to a team of National Basketball Association all-stars playing a college team.
From "Endgame" by Frank Brady
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.
