juxtapose
verb
jux·ta·pose
ˈjək-stə-ˌpōz 
juxtaposed; juxtaposing
: to place (different things) side by side (as to compare them or contrast them or to create an interesting effect)
juxtapose unexpected combinations of colors, shapes and ideas—
J. F. T. Bugental
J. F. T. Bugental
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Is juxtapose a back-formation?
A back-formation is a word that has come about through the removal of a prefix or a suffix from a longer word. Etymologists believe juxtapose is a back-formation that was created when people trimmed down the noun juxtaposition. Historical evidence supports the idea: juxtaposition shows up in the 17th century and juxtapose in the 19th. Juxtaposition is a combination of Latin juxta, meaning "near," and English "position."
Examples of juxtapose in a Sentence
a display that juxtaposes modern art with classical art
Recent Examples on the Web
Glossy runway and editorial images are juxtaposed with backstage shots of seamstresses at work in the Chanel couture workshop, which employs 150 people to make its one-of-a-kind creations.
—Joelle Diderich, Footwear News, 8 Sep. 2025
Explores German director Leni Riefenstahl’s artistic legacy and her complex ties to the Nazi regime as Hitler’s favorite moviemaker, juxtaposing her self-portrayal with evidence suggesting awareness of the regime’s atrocities.
—Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 5 Sep. 2025
Director Pete Ohs juxtaposes the quiet nature of the narrative with straightforward narration that gives the film a novelistic quality.
—Jourdain Searles, HollywoodReporter, 5 Sep. 2025
The 18-page report juxtaposed how homelessness had surged over the previous five years even as the state sharply added funding to several programs meant to keep it in check.
—U T Editorial Board, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for juxtapose
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Joelle Diderich, Footwear News, 8 Sep. 2025
Explores German director Leni Riefenstahl’s artistic legacy and her complex ties to the Nazi regime as Hitler’s favorite moviemaker, juxtaposing her self-portrayal with evidence suggesting awareness of the regime’s atrocities.
—Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 5 Sep. 2025
Director Pete Ohs juxtaposes the quiet nature of the narrative with straightforward narration that gives the film a novelistic quality.
—Jourdain Searles, HollywoodReporter, 5 Sep. 2025
The 18-page report juxtaposed how homelessness had surged over the previous five years even as the state sharply added funding to several programs meant to keep it in check.
—U T Editorial Board, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for juxtapose
Cite this Entry
“Juxtapose.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/juxtapose. Accessed 11 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
juxtapose
verb
jux·ta·pose
ˈjək-stə-ˌpōz
juxtaposed; juxtaposing
: to place side by side
juxtaposition
noun
ˌjək-stə-pə-ˈzish-ən
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