comparison

noun

com·​par·​i·​son kəm-ˈper-ə-sən 

-ˈpa-rə-

1

: the act or process of comparing: such as

a

: the representing of one thing or person as similar to or like another

His poetry invites comparison with the poems of Robert Frost.

b

: an examination of two or more items to establish similarities and dissimilarities

His faults seem minor by comparison.

a comparison of the sports cars

2

: identity of features : similarity

several points of comparison between the two

3

: the modification of an adjective or adverb to denote different levels of quality, quantity, or relation

Examples of comparison in a Sentence

a comparison of the data from the two studies

the comparison of monkeys to humans

I don't think comparisons of her situation and mine are appropriate.

Recent Examples on the Web

The closest possible comparison could be the past three UEFA European Championships that’s used a system allowing four of six third-place finishers to move on. — Andrew Greif, NBC news, 26 June 2026

When the researchers reran the bachelor's analysis using the kind of comparison most other studies rely on—measuring college-goers against a vague pool of non-college peers similar only in age—the apparent payoff jumped by about $27,000. — Alison Griffin, Forbes.com, 25 June 2026

Jupiter, by comparison, is as much as 35 times denser than these two lightweights. — Marcia Dunn, The Orlando Sentinel, 25 June 2026

Sports, by comparison, still present much of their information in separate pieces. — Jon Stojan, USA Today, 25 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French comparison, from Latin comparation-, comparatio, from comparare — see compare entry 1

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing comparison

• by/in comparison
• comparison shop
• draw a comparison
• evokes/invites comparison with
• make a comparison
• no comparison
• pale by comparison
• pale in/by comparison to/with
• stands/bears comparison

Rhymes for comparison

• intercomparison

Kids Definition

comparison

noun

com·​par·​i·​son kəm-ˈpar-ə-sən 

1

: the act of comparing : the state of being compared

2

: change in the form of an adjective or an adverb (as by having -er or -est added or more or most prefixed) to show different levels of quality, quantity, or relation