comparative

American  

[kuhm-par-uh-tiv] / kəmˈpær ə tɪv /

adjective

1. of or relating to comparison.

2. proceeding by, founded on, or using comparison as a method of study.

   comparative anatomy.

3. estimated by comparison; not positive or absolute; relative.

   a comparative newcomer in politics;

   to live in comparative luxury.

4. Grammar. being, noting, or pertaining to the intermediate degree of the comparison of adjectives, as better and more beautiful, the comparative forms of good and beautiful, and of adverbs, as nearer and more carefully, the comparative forms of near and carefully.

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noun

Grammar.

1. the comparative degree.

2. a form in the comparative.

comparative British  

/ kəmˈpærətɪv /

adjective

1. denoting or involving comparison

   comparative literature

2. judged by comparison; relative

   a comparative loss of prestige

3. grammar denoting the form of an adjective that indicates that the quality denoted is possessed to a greater extent. In English the comparative form of an adjective is usually marked by the suffix -er or the word more Compare positive superlative

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noun

1. the comparative form of an adjective

comparative Cultural  

1. A form of an adjective indicating a greater degree of the quality that the adjective describes. Better is the comparative form of good; faster is the comparative form of fast; bluer is the comparative form of blue; more charming is the comparative form of charming. (Compare superlative.)

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Other Word Forms

• comparatively adverb
• comparativeness noun

Etymology

Origin of comparative

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English, from Latin comparātīvus, equivalent to comparāt(us) (past participle of comparāre “to place together, match”; compare, -ate ¹ ) + -īvus -ive

Explanation

The word comparative deals, naturally, with comparisons, looking at characteristics of two or more things. For example, you might study a course such as comparative literature, which examines works from two or more cultures or languages. Coming from the Latin verb comparāre, "to compare," comparative worked its way into Late Middle English as an adjectival form indicating comparison. In the comparative form, the adjective either ends in "-er" (my hands are smaller than yours are) or uses the word "more" before it (you are more qualified than the other applicants are). The word also can offer an estimate rather than an absolute. You might be a comparative beginner in cooking class, but your ham still won the prize.

Example Sentences

When I graduated from UC–Berkeley with my “useless” comparative literature degree, into one of the bleakest job markets in recent American memory, I thought to myself, There must be a loophole somewhere.

From Slate • Mar. 20, 2026

Your columnist sounds like a broken record talking about the comparative merits of inflation-protected Treasury bonds, known as TIPS.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 17, 2026

Festival director Rob Spring said the changes were needed to keep the event "competitive and comparative".

From BBC • Mar. 3, 2026

"We decided to take a comparative approach looking at the Voyager 2 data and compare it to Earth observations we've made in the decades since."

From Science Daily • Feb. 7, 2026

The stillness in the air, the glory of the light, the feeling of comparative safety—all had made me think so.

From "Life of Pi" by Yann Martel

Related Words

• provisional