juxtaposition

[juhk-stuh-puh-zish-uhn]

noun

1. an act or instance of placing close together or side by side, especially for comparison or contrast.

2. the state of being close together or side by side.

Other Word Forms

• juxtapositional adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of juxtaposition¹

First recorded in 1655–65; from French, from Latin juxtā “near, bordering, side by side” + French position position; joust ( def. )