juxtaposition

American  

[juhk-stuh-puh-zish-uhn] / ˌdʒʌk stə pəˈzɪʃ ən /

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.

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Other Word Forms

• juxtapositional
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of juxtaposition

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

Explanation

If a waiter served you a whole fish and a scoop of chocolate ice cream on the same plate, your surprise might be caused by the juxtaposition, or the side-by-side contrast, of the two foods. Any time unlike things bump up against each other, you can describe it as a juxtaposition. Imagine a funeral mourner telling jokes graveside, and you get the idea — the juxtaposition in this case is between grief and humor. Juxtaposition of two contrasting items is often done deliberately in writing, music, or art — in order to highlight their differences.

Example Sentences

The nostalgic tone of the collection was captured by some attendees who praised the juxtaposition of pieces, resulting in fluid, less cinched silhouettes reminiscent of 1940s Hollywood.

From Barron's • May 14, 2026

The juxtaposition of events — escalating geopolitical pressure abroad and the promotion of a high-profile combat sports spectacle at home — has drawn attention for its optics.

From Salon • Apr. 12, 2026

The juxtaposition of career- and kid-related decor was an intentional choice Farr made to reflect the phase of life she was in for much of the time she occupied the home.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 7, 2026

It’s a book that, in juxtaposition to “Brats,” charts “the private, personal sort of friendship.”

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 25, 2026

Zero dwells at the juxtaposition of quantum mechanics and relativity; zero lives where the two theories meet, and zero causes the two theories to clash.

From "Zero: The Biography of a Dangerous Idea" by Charles Seife