comparable

[ kom-per-uh-buhlor, sometimes, kuhm-pair- ]

adjective

1. capable of being compared; having features in common with something else to permit or suggest comparison:

   He considered the Roman and British empires to be comparable.

   Synonyms: similar, equivalent, equal, like

2. worthy of comparison:

   shops comparable to those on Fifth Avenue.

3. usable for comparison; similar:

   We have no comparable data on Russian farming.

comparable

/ ˈkɒmpərəbəl /

adjective

1. worthy of comparison
2. able to be compared (with)

Derived Forms

• ˌcomparaˈbility, noun
• ˈcomparably, adverb

Other Words From

• com·pa·ra·bil·i·ty [kom-per-, uh, -, bil, -i-tee], com·pa·ra·ble·ness noun
• com·pa·ra·bly adverb
• in·ter·com·pa·ra·ble adjective
• un·com·pa·ra·ble adjective
• un·com·pa·ra·ble·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of comparable¹

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English, from Latin comparābilis, equivalent to comparā(re) “to compare ” + -bilis -ble

Example Sentences

In tests, the device produced comparable results to a blood pressure cuff and another clinical device called an arterial line, which is a sensor inserted into an artery to continuously monitor blood pressure.

From Science Daily

In affected areas, residents urgently need to protect themselves from inhaling wildfire smoke, which is comparable in composition to secondhand smoke without the nicotine.

From Los Angeles Times

In a comparable experiment, we previously demonstrated the bouba/kiki effect with speakers of different languages, but the R/L effect appears much stronger and more consistent across cultures.

From Science Daily

But this changed after the Biden administration updated its rules, allowing comparable Atacms missiles to be used outside of Ukraine's borders.

From BBC

"The whistles have a very unique construction, and we don't know of any comparable musical instrument from other pre-Columbian cultures or from other historical and contemporary contexts," says Frühholz.

From Science Daily

Related Words

• akin
• analogous
• corresponding
• related