juxtaposition
noun
jux·ta·po·si·tion
ˌjək-stə-pə-ˈzi-shən 
: the act or an instance of placing two or more things side by side often to compare or contrast or to create an interesting effect
an unusual juxtaposition of colors
The juxtaposition of Holly's career with the content of her podcast might leave audience members scratching their heads.—
Nick Kasmik
Nick Kasmik
also
: the state of being so placed
contrasting shapes placed in juxtaposition to each other
A five-minute ferry ride from Brooklyn and Manhattan, [Governor's Island] feels distant yet impossibly close, and the juxtaposition of vertical city and languorous landscape is almost surreal. —Justin Davidson
Justin Davidson Examples of juxtaposition in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
During the inaugural 2026 Central Texas Growth Forum, Travis County Judge Andy Brown commemorated the Austin Board of Realtors’ 100th anniversary — a somewhat unusual milestone to mark at a first-time event, but the juxtaposition seemed fitting.
—Travis Webb, Austin American Statesman, 1 Mar. 2026
Dubai ranks third on the list and is the only Middle Eastern destination to make the top 10, standing out for its scale and juxtaposition.
—Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 25 Feb. 2026
As reviewers have noted, the engine of her Wuthering Heights is not emotion or plot but rather the whiplash created by audiovisual juxtapositions—most of which project the dubious theory that Victorian social rules were equivalent to BDSM.
—Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 24 Feb. 2026
The duo, longtime partners of the brand, delivered a refined yet functional space hinged on clean lines and the juxtaposition of dense textures and lightweight elements.
—Sandra Salibian, Footwear News, 23 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for juxtaposition
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Travis Webb, Austin American Statesman, 1 Mar. 2026
Dubai ranks third on the list and is the only Middle Eastern destination to make the top 10, standing out for its scale and juxtaposition.
—Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 25 Feb. 2026
As reviewers have noted, the engine of her Wuthering Heights is not emotion or plot but rather the whiplash created by audiovisual juxtapositions—most of which project the dubious theory that Victorian social rules were equivalent to BDSM.
—Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 24 Feb. 2026
The duo, longtime partners of the brand, delivered a refined yet functional space hinged on clean lines and the juxtaposition of dense textures and lightweight elements.
—Sandra Salibian, Footwear News, 23 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for juxtaposition
Cite this Entry
“Juxtaposition.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/juxtaposition. Accessed 4 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
juxtaposition
noun
jux·ta·po·si·tion
ˌjək-stə-pə-ˈzish-ən
: the act or an instance of placing two or more things side by side
also
: the state of being so placed
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