analogy
Americannoun
plural
analogies-
a similarity between like features of two things, on which a comparison may be based.
the analogy between the heart and a pump.
- Synonyms:
- affinity, similitude, resemblance, likeness, comparison
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similarity or comparability.
I see no analogy between your problem and mine.
- Synonyms:
- correspondence
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Biology. an analogous relationship.
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Linguistics.
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the process by which words or phrases are created or re-formed according to existing patterns in the language, as when shoon was re-formed as shoes, when -ize is added to nouns like winter to form verbs, or when a child says foots for feet.
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a form resulting from such a process.
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Logic. a form of reasoning in which one thing is inferred to be similar to another thing in a certain respect, on the basis of the known similarity between the things in other respects.
noun
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agreement or similarity, esp in a certain limited number of features or details
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a comparison made to show such a similarity
to draw an analogy between an atom and the solar system
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biology the relationship between analogous organs or parts
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logic maths a form of reasoning in which a similarity between two or more things is inferred from a known similarity between them in other respects
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linguistics imitation of existing models or regular patterns in the formation of words, inflections, etc
a child may use ``sheeps'' as the plural of ``sheep'' by analogy with ``dog'', ``dogs'', ``cat'', ``cats'', etc
Usage
What is an analogy? An analogy is a comparison made to show how two different things are similar, especially in limited ways.An analogy is a technique frequently used in literature to explain something by comparing it to something else (a literary device). There are several types of analogies you can make.A simile directly compares two seemingly unrelated things and then explains what the two items have in common to make a point. Similes often use like or as to make the comparison, as in Life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you’re going to get. The analogy says that life, like an unlabeled box of chocolates, is mysterious and full of both pleasant and unpleasant surprises.A metaphor indirectly compares two things, as in He was a wolf among sheep in the boardroom, taking command instantly. Instead of the analogy saying the corporate executive was like a ferocious predator, it says he is a ferocious predator. The analogy makes the point that the man was aggressive and dominated the other people in the room.Analogies are complex and often rely on a reader or listener using logic to figure out what connection the user of the analogy is making.In other areas of study, such as math and science, analogies are used to infer, or to figure out through reason and logic, unknown information. For example, if you know how A is similar to B and how B is similar to C, using reason you can determine how A is similar to C.
Other Word Forms
- analogical adjective
- analogically adverb
- analogist noun
Etymology
Origin of analogy
First recorded in 1530–40; from Latin analogia, from Greek; analogous, -y 3
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.
For Africa's leaders, who for years have been arguing that they should be dining at the top table, it was not an unfamiliar analogy.
From BBC
“The way he explains is really good. And he explains in like, metaphors and analogies that you’re surprised to hear,” said Malinin, who debuted the quad axel in 2022 when he was 17.
From Los Angeles Times
But she's also used the water analogy to argue against a ban in the past.
From BBC
The analogy I have long wanted to draw is with Samuel Insull.
Acting as the greengrocer in his analogy, Mr. Carney proclaimed that it is time for world leaders to follow his heroic example, take the proverbial signs out of their windows and speak truth to power.
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.
