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

Although the price tag to help Ukraine seems enormous, the amount of money is small in comparison with what America spends on its own defense—and provides an incalculable investment in U.S. national security. —Mariia Hlyten, The Atlantic, 7 Apr. 2024

By comparison, their White counterparts have a 1 in 5,000 chance, according to the research. —Amanda Sealy, CNN, 7 Apr. 2024

By comparison, 30 dbA could be compared to the sound of a whisper, and 40 dbA is similar to the hum of a refrigerator, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. —Paige Bennett, Better Homes & Gardens, 6 Apr. 2024

The firm also says by comparison in this same timeframe, only $3 million has been spent by Trump's campaign and allies since super Tuesday. —Aaron Navarro, CBS News, 6 Apr. 2024

By comparison, living mammals have a tribosphenic pattern that interlocks with upper molars when chewing food. —Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 4 Apr. 2024

Margaret hears screaming and follows the sounds to the infirmary, observing a childbirth so unnatural, even the climactic delivery of Damien can’t help seeming tepid by comparison. —Peter Debruge, Variety, 4 Apr. 2024

South Carolina, by comparison, has about 100,000 birds. —Travis Hall, Field & Stream, 4 Apr. 2024

Paleontologists have only found the skull of this species, but based on comparisons with Archelon and Protostega skulls, the animal might have been more than 7.5 feet long from snout to tail, the authors of that study wrote. —Joshua Rapp Learn, Discover Magazine, 3 Apr. 2024

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

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