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

By comparison, said research firm DC Byte, the American hub of Virginia has about 38,000 megawatts of capacity live or in planning.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Right now, it feels like an apt comparison.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Now, Arsenal is drawing unfavorable comparisons to the kings of anti-soccer and their cave man tactics—only this time, they’re at the opposite end of the table.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The vast differences in equipment, training, technology, philosophy, and yes, money, make it virtually impossible to render an accurate comparison.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

In her younger days, she met US presidents and Hollywood superstars, with some Western media drawing comparisons with former US first lady Jackie Kennedy.

Read more on Barron's

Related Words

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