similarity
Americannoun
-
the state of being similar; likeness; resemblance.
- Synonyms:
- parallelism, correspondence, similitude
- Antonyms:
- difference
-
an aspect, trait, or feature like or resembling another or another's.
a similarity of diction.
Related Words
See resemblance.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of similarity
Explanation
You might get annoyed if people keep saying there is a similarity between you and your older sister, particularly if you're tired of being compared to her. A similarity is a sameness or alikeness. When you are comparing two things — physical objects, ideas, or experiences — you often look at their similarities and their differences. Difference is the opposite of similarity. Both squares and rectangles have four sides, that is a similarity between them. Just because two things share similarities doesn't mean they are the same.
Vocabulary lists containing similarity
PARCC: Language of the Test (Grade7)
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Academic Vocabulary: Core Tier 2 Words, List 2
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Academic Vocabulary Toolkit 1, Words 91-100
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Last week Vance even joked about the similarity himself, when asked about reports that Trump has been polling within the Republican party on whether they prefer Vance or Rubio.
From Barron's • May 19, 2026
"What we've done here is we've compared these drawings to Anne Boleyn's first cousins and to her daughter Elizabeth to look for the family similarity and geometry and they cluster," Davies explains.
From BBC • May 1, 2026
“I see that similarity in basketball. It’s always pulled me knowing you have to be good at everything instead of one particular skill.”
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 26, 2026
However, their chemical similarity to certain plastics makes them difficult to distinguish in lab analyses, increasing the risk of false positives when studying microplastic pollution.
From Science Daily • Mar. 29, 2026
Kainene laughed and Olanna laughed and slapped her arm; Richard saw the similarity in the curve of their lips, in the shape of their slightly larger front teeth.
From "Half of a Yellow Sun" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
