equivalent

adjective

equiv·​a·​lent i-ˈkwi-və-lənt 

-ˈkwiv-lənt

1

: equal in force, amount, or value

also : equal in area or volume but not superposable

a square equivalent to a triangle

2

a

: like in signification or import

b

: having logical equivalence

equivalent statements

3

: corresponding or virtually identical especially in effect or function

4

obsolete : equal in might or authority

5

: having the same chemical combining capacity

equivalent quantities of two elements

6

a

: having the same solution set

equivalent equations

b

: capable of being placed in one-to-one correspondence

equivalent sets

c

: related by an equivalence relation

equivalent noun

equivalently adverb

Did you know?

Modern democracies have institutions and offices that are roughly equivalent to those found in others: the president of the United States has his British equivalent in the prime minister, for instance, and the U.S. Congress finds its equivalent in the British Parliament. The heavily armored knight on his great armored horse has been called the Middle Ages' equivalent of the army tank. In none of these examples are the two things identical to each other; they're simply very similar in their effect or purpose or nature, which is what equivalence usually implies.

Choose the Right Synonym for equivalent

same, selfsame, very, identical, equivalent, equal mean not different or not differing from one another.

same may imply and selfsame always implies that the things under consideration are one thing and not two or more things.

took the same route

derived from the selfsame source

very, like selfsame, may imply identity, or, like same may imply likeness in kind.

the very point I was trying to make

identical may imply selfsameness or suggest absolute agreement in all details.

identical results

equivalent implies amounting to the same thing in worth or significance.

two houses equivalent in market value

equal implies being identical in value, magnitude, or some specified quality.

equal shares in the business

Examples of equivalent in a Sentence

Those less-known companies manufacture equivalent products at cheaper prices.

I haven't taken English 202, but I took an equivalent course at another university.

an equivalent amount of money

Recent Examples on the Web

That’s very roughly equivalent to a mountain about 750 meters high—though a black hole with that mass would be less than a trillionth of a centimeter across, far smaller than a hydrogen atom. —Phil Plait, Scientific American, 27 Mar. 2026

According to Habben Jansen, six Hapag-Lloyd vessels with a total capacity of about 25,000 20-foot equivalent units (TEUs) are still stuck in the Gulf. —Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 27 Mar. 2026

Low carbon bricks Once fully operational, the transition from natural gas to green hydrogen at Wienerberger’s Denton brickworks is expected to cut CO₂ emissions by more than 11,600 tonnes annually—equivalent to a 9 percent reduction in the company’s Scope 1 and 2 emissions. —Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 27 Mar. 2026

The oil shortfall caused by this crisis is around 10 million barrels a day, roughly equivalent to how much demand dropped during the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic. —Camila Domonoske, NPR, 27 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Middle French or Late Latin; Middle French, from Late Latin aequivalent-, aequivalens, present participle of aequivalēre to have equal power, from Latin aequi- + valēre to be strong — more at wield

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing equivalent

• equivalent weight
• gram equivalent
• topologically equivalent

Rhymes for equivalent

• ambivalent
• bivalent
• trivalent
• nonequivalent

Kids Definition

equivalent

1 of 2 adjective

equiv·​a·​lent

i-ˈkwiv(-ə)-lənt

1

a

: alike or equal in number, value, or meaning

equivalent statements

b

: having the same numerical value

equivalent fractions

equivalent numerals

c

: having the same solution set

y = 2 and 2y = 4 are equivalent equations

2

: having the same effect or function

equivalent methods

3

: capable of being placed in a one-to-one correspondence

equivalent sets

equivalently adverb

equivalent

2 of 2 noun

: one that is equivalent

especially : a number (as a decimal) that is equivalent to another (as a fraction)

Medical Definition

equivalent

1 of 2 adjective

equiv·​a·​lent -lənt 

1

: corresponding or virtually identical especially in effect or function

drugs that are therapeutically equivalent

2

: having the same chemical combining capacity

equivalent quantities of two elements

equivalent

2 of 2 noun

1

a

: the relative weight of an element that has the same combining capacity as a given weight of another element : the atomic weight divided by the valence

b

: the relative weight of a radical or compound that combines with a given weight of an element, radical, or compound

especially : the weight of a compound that reacts with one equivalent of a given chemical element

2

: a psychopathological symptom replacing the usual one in a given disorder

a twilight state may be an epileptic equivalent

Legal Definition

equivalent

noun

eq·​uiv·​a·​lent

: something that performs substantially the same function as another thing in substantially the same way compare aggregation, combination, invention

Note: Under patent law, a patentee may bring a claim for infringement against the inventor of an equivalent.