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

In comparison, only 71% of the 10,253 students who started a T-level in 2022 finished the two-year programme.

From BBC

By comparison, in the astronomical calendar, winter always starts at the winter solstice - or shortest day.

From BBC

"I think his admission that in 2013, which is really modern day in comparison to the 1970s and 1980s, that he didn't do enough, that he wasn't rigorous, that he was enacted is enough in my mind to confirm that Justin Welby along with countless other Anglican churchmen were part of a cover-up about the abuse," Mr Morse told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.

From BBC

England's playbook seems thin by comparison.

From BBC

Another former minister told me, “by any measure we are underspending – if you don’t buy the insurance policy you end up having to pay yourself and the cost of real conflicts would be immense in comparison”.

From BBC

Related Words

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