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 called: degrees of comparison. grammar the listing of the positive, comparative, and superlative forms of an adjective or adverb

6. to be sufficiently similar in class or range to be compared with (something else), esp favourably

Other Word Forms

• intercomparison noun
• precomparison noun
• recomparison 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

A bunch of quisling Republicans kowtowing to their aging fascist leader may seem less scary in comparison.

From Salon

Their aggressive tactics and commitment to reshaping the party have led to comparisons to the conservative tea party movement.

From Los Angeles Times

Not consciously, but he liked the comparison because “Easy in many ways is the opposite of Philip Marlowe.”

From Los Angeles Times

“The toll of taking four or five at-bats versus pitching five innings, there’s no comparison,” Roberts said.

From Los Angeles Times

But the best result remained the comparison between the mortuary image and the images of Sadr alive.

From BBC

Related Words

• analogy 
• connection 
• contrast 
• correlation 
• example 
• identification 
• juxtaposition 
• observation 
• ratio 
• relation 
• resemblance 
• similarity 
• testing www.thesaurus.com