comparison

[ kuhm-par-uh-suhn ]

noun

1. the act of comparing.
2. the state of being compared.
3. a likening; illustration by similitude; comparative estimate or statement.
4. Rhetoric. the considering of two things with regard to some characteristic that is common to both, as the likening of a hero to a lion in courage.
5. capability of being compared or likened.

   Synonyms: similarity, resemblance, likeness

6. Grammar.
   1. the function of an adverb or adjective that is used to indicate degrees of superiority or inferiority in quality, quantity, or intensity.
   2. the patterns of formation involved therein.
   3. the degrees of a particular word, displayed in a fixed order, as mild, milder, mildest, less mild, least mild.

comparison

/ kəmˈpærɪsən /

noun

1. the act or process of comparing
2. the state of being compared
3. comparable quality or qualities; likeness

   there was no comparison between them

4. a rhetorical device involving comparison, such as a simile
5. Also calleddegrees of comparison grammar the listing of the positive, comparative, and superlative forms of an adjective or adverb
6. bear comparison or stand comparison
   to be sufficiently similar in class or range to be compared with (something else), esp favourably

Other Words From

• inter·com·pari·son noun
• precom·pari·son noun
• recom·pari·son noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of comparison¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English comparesoun, from Old French comparaison, from Latin comparātiōn-, stem of comparātiō, from comparāt(us) “placed together” (past participle of comparāre “to place together, match”; compare ) + -iō -ion

Example Sentences

Mr Walsh is also sceptical of whether people smuggling gangs can be cracked at scale, drawing the comparison of drugs gangs.

From BBC

Three days later, that seems like nothing in comparison.

From Los Angeles Times

In future work, they also plan to see if their findings can be replicated using an active comparison group and a larger sample.

From Science Daily

For comparison, Ukrainian forces seized just over 1,171 sq km in the first month of its incursion into Kursk - though Russian forces have now retaken nearly half of that territory.

From BBC

There was no comparison between the attacking Scotland in the final game of their Nations League group campaign and the cautious Scotland in the last match of their dismal Euros experience.

From BBC

Related Words

• analogy
• connection
• contrast
• correlation
• example
• identification
• juxtaposition
• observation
• ratio
• relation
• resemblance
• similarity
• testing