definitions

equivalent

[ ih-kwiv-uh-luh nt or for 5, ee-kwuh-vey-luh nt ]
/ ɪˈkwɪv ə lənt or for 5, ˌi kwəˈveɪ lənt /
||
SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR equivalent ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

equal in value, measure, force, effect, significance, etc.: His silence is equivalent to an admission of guilt.
corresponding in position, function, etc.: In some ways their prime minister is equivalent to our president.
Geometry. having the same extent, as a triangle and a square of equal area.
Mathematics. (of two sets) able to be placed in one-to-one correspondence.
Chemistry. having the same capacity to combine or react chemically.

noun

something that is equivalent.

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RELATED WORDS

identical, comparable, corresponding, equal, proportionate, tantamount, commensurate, even, agnate, correspondent, like, reciprocal, duplicate, correlative, carbon, convertible, copy, parallel, substitute, ditto

Nearby words

equivalence, equivalence class, equivalence principle, equivalence relation, equivalency, equivalent, equivalent air speed, equivalent circuit, equivalent focal length, equivalent weight, equivalve

Origin of equivalent

1425–75; late Middle English < Late Latin aequivalent- (stem of aequivalēns), present participle of aequivalēre. See equi-, -valent

Related forms

Can be confused

equivalent equivocal
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for equivalent

British Dictionary definitions for equivalent

equivalent

/ (ɪˈkwɪvələnt) /

adjective

equal or interchangeable in value, quantity, significance, etc
having the same or a similar effect or meaning
maths
  1. having a particular property in common; equal
  2. (of two equations or inequalities) having the same set of solutions
  3. (of two sets) having the same cardinal number
maths logic (of two propositions) having an equivalence between them

noun

something that is equivalent
short for equivalent weight

Derived Forms

equivalently, adverb

Word Origin for equivalent

C15: from Late Latin aequivalēns, from aequivalēre to be equally significant, from Latin aequi- equi- + valēre to be worth
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

Medicine definitions for equivalent

equivalent

[ ĭ-kwĭv′ə-lənt ]

adj.

Equal, as in value, force, or meaning.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.

Science definitions for equivalent

equivalent

[ ĭ-kwĭv′ə-lənt ]

Equal, as in value, meaning, or force.
  1. Of or relating to a relation between two elements that is reflexive, symmetric, and transitive.
  2. Having a one-to-one correspondence, as between parts. Two triangles having the same area are equivalent, as are two congruent geometric figures.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.