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comparator

American  
[kuhm-par-uh-ter, kom-puh-rey-] / kəmˈpær ə tər, ˈkɒm pəˌreɪ- /

noun

  1. any of various instruments for making comparisons, as of lengths or distances, tints of colors, etc.

  2. Electronics. a circuit for comparing two signals, as readings of duplicate information stored in a digital computer, and for giving an indication of agreement or disagreement between them.


comparator British  
/ kəmˈpærətə /

noun

  1. any instrument used to measure a property of a system by comparing it with a standard system

  2. an electric circuit that compares two signals and gives an indication of the extent of their dissimilarity

"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

Etymology

Origin of comparator

First recorded in 1880–85; from Late Latin comparātor “a comparer”; see compare, -tor

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.

See Examples For:

Moderna’s vaccine reduced flu cases by 26.6% versus the comparator.

From The Wall Street Journal Feb. 10, 2026

They also found more deaths among girls who received RTS,S than girls who received a comparator vaccine, against rabies.

From Science Magazine Oct. 23, 2023

Fifty years on from that policy decision, Sweden has clean, secure and affordable energy and is emitting less greenhouse gas than any comparator nation.

From Salon Jul. 16, 2023

"With Wieze fully operational since end of October and against a strong comparator, we had, as expected, a slow start to the year," said Chief Executive Peter Boone in a statement.

From Reuters Jan. 18, 2023

In the comparator Vickers brought the corresponding standard comparison lines together.

From The Year When Stardust Fell by Jones, Raymond F.

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