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

Derived 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

Meagan adds that she enjoys the juxtaposition of the "bravado" of ice hockey mixed with the characters' "vulnerability underneath".

From BBC • May 30, 2026

The resulting juxtaposition offers a stark symbol of the economic fallout from the Iran war: Sailors are stuck on ships loaded with tens of millions of dollars worth of fertilizer, yet are left rationing food.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 9, 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 is jarring -- and entirely normal here.

From Barron's • Mar. 28, 2026

Even the rash-free are affected by the juxtaposition of terrible heat and cool, inaccessible water.

From "Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America" by Barbara Ehrenreich