comparison

[kuhm-par-uh-suhn]

noun

1. the act of comparing.

2. the state of being compared.

3. a likening; illustration by similitude; comparative estimate or statement.

4. Rhetoric.,  the considering of two things with regard to some characteristic that is common to both, as the likening of a hero to a lion in courage.

5. capability of being compared or likened.

   Synonyms: similarity, resemblance, likeness

6. Grammar.

   1. the function of an adverb or adjective that is used to indicate degrees of superiority or inferiority in quality, quantity, or intensity.

   2. the patterns of formation involved therein.

   3. the degrees of a particular word, displayed in a fixed order, as mild, milder, mildest, less mild, least mild.

comparison

/ kəmˈpærɪsən /

noun

1. the act or process of comparing

2. the state of being compared

3. comparable quality or qualities; likeness

   there was no comparison between them

4. a rhetorical device involving comparison, such as a simile

5. Also called: degrees of comparison. grammar the listing of the positive, comparative, and superlative forms of an adjective or adverb

6. to be sufficiently similar in class or range to be compared with (something else), esp favourably

Other Word Forms

• intercomparison noun
• precomparison noun
• recomparison noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of comparison¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English comparesoun, from Old French comparaison, from Latin comparātiōn-, stem of comparātiō, from comparāt(us) “placed together” (past participle of comparāre “to place together, match”; compare ) + -iō -ion

Example Sentences

Indeed, her book is replete with their habit of self-examination, an unflattering comparison with today’s legacy press.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

It is linked to the Islamic State group and has emphasised more moderate messaging in comparison to Boko Haram and proselytises in Hausa and other local languages to attract recruits.

Read more on BBC

In comparison to the monsters Bower drew from to develop Vecna, he looked to one person as inspiration for Henry in Season 5: Mister Rogers.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

By comparison, the index gained roughly 5% over the same period last year.

Read more on Barron's

A last-minute one-way flight from Chicago to San Francisco, by comparison, was about $500.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• analogy 
• connection 
• contrast 
• correlation 
• example 
• identification 
• juxtaposition 
• observation 
• ratio 
• relation 
• resemblance 
• similarity 
• testing www.thesaurus.com