comparison

American  

[kuhm-par-uh-suhn] / kəmˈpær ə sən /

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.

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comparison British  

/ 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

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Other Word Forms

• intercomparison noun
• precomparison noun
• recomparison noun

Etymology

Origin of comparison

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

Four counties were excluded for comparison in the report because the numbers were too small.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 4, 2026

To address this gap, the researchers developed a framework to examine temperature changes across the contiguous 48 United States, allowing for a more precise comparison of how warming unfolds in different locations.

From Science Daily • Apr. 4, 2026

The Quigleys fell in love with southern Georgia, but the schooling options there paled in comparison with what they found across the border in Florida.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 3, 2026

For comparison, the big-budget 2025 Eurovision Song Contest says it reached 166 million people.

From Barron's • Apr. 3, 2026

Even the stench from the manacled troll seemed mild in comparison.

From "Artemis Fowl" by Eoin Colfer

Related Words

• analogy
• connection
• contrast
• correlation
• example
• identification
• juxtaposition
• observation
• ratio
• relation
• resemblance
• similarity
• testing