equivalent

[ih-kwiv-uh-luh nt or for 5, ee-kwuh-vey-luh nt]

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.

Origin of equivalent

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

Related formse·quiv·a·lent·ly, adverbnon·e·quiv·a·lent, adjective, nounnon·e·quiv·a·lent·ly, adverbqua·si-e·quiv·a·lent, adjectivequa·si-e·quiv·a·lent·ly, adverbsu·per·e·quiv·a·lent, adjective, nounun·e·quiv·a·lent, adjectiveun·e·quiv·a·lent·ly, adverb

Can be confusedequivalent equivocal

Synonyms for equivalent

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR equivalent ON THESAURUS.COM

1. See equal.

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

Related Words for equivalently

fairly, uniformly, justly, equitably, equally, squarely, precisely, proportionately, identically, likewise, coordinately, correspondingly, fifty-fifty, impartially, symmetrically, alike, exactly, tied, analogously, commensurately

Examples from the Web for equivalently

Contemporary Examples of equivalently

Yes, any additional current borrowing must eventually be repaid—or, equivalently, the interest on it must be paid forever.
Let's Start Spending
Robert H. Frank
July 20, 2010

Historical Examples of equivalently

The evil of the last days had fallen from him, and the reaction was equivalently violent.
A Mere Accident
George Moore

British Dictionary definitions for equivalently

equivalent

adjective

equal or interchangeable in value, quantity, significance, etc

having the same or a similar effect or meaning

maths

having a particular property in common; equal
(of two equations or inequalities) having the same set of solutions
(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 Formsequivalently, 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

Word Origin and History for equivalently

equivalent

adj.

early 15c., from Middle French equivalent and directly from Late Latin aequivalentem (nominative aequivalens) "equivalent," present participle of aequivalere "be equivalent," from Latin aequus "equal" (see equal) + valere "be well, be worth" (see valiant). As a noun from c.1500.

equivalently in Medicine

equivalent

[ĭ-kwĭv′ə-lənt]

adj.

Equal, as in value, force, or meaning.

equivalently in Science

equivalent

[ĭ-kwĭv′ə-lənt]

Equal, as in value, meaning, or force.

Of or relating to a relation between two elements that is reflexive, symmetric, and transitive.
Having a one-to-one correspondence, as between parts. Two triangles having the same area are equivalent, as are two congruent geometric figures.