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; joust ( def. )

Example Sentences

The juxtaposition is jarring -- and entirely normal here.

From Barron's • Mar. 28, 2026

A string of three defeats has led to familiar questions surrounding Borthwick's suitability to lead England amid a three-year reign of jarring juxtaposition.

From BBC • Mar. 13, 2026

So, before a game last week, I asked Kings fans about the juxtaposition: Why can’t the Kings win in a league with a salary cap intended to help them win?

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 10, 2026

With its Miyazaki-inflected aesthetic rooted in hand-stylized humans and a juxtaposition of natural-world splendor with the sheen of artificial enhancements, “Arco” is a sweet yet slight sci-fi vision, an “E.T.” riff with a European sensibility.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 23, 2026

This juxtaposition of his heart and mind gave him not only headaches but weird dreams.

From "Charles and Emma: The Darwins' Leap of Faith" by Deborah Heiligman