comparative

adjective com·par·a·tive \ kəm-ˈper-ə-tiv , -ˈpa-rə- \

Updated on: 12 May 2018

Definition of comparative

1 : of, relating to, or constituting the degree of comparison in a language that denotes increase in the quality, quantity, or relation expressed by an adjective or adverb

The comparative form of happy is happier.

The comparative form of clearly is more clearly.

2 : considered as if in comparison to something else as a standard not quite attained : relative

a comparative stranger

She's a comparative newcomer to the company.

3 : characterized by systematic comparison especially of likenesses and dissimilarities

comparative anatomy

a comparative analysis of the roles of women in different cultures

—

comparatively

adverb

—

comparativeness

noun

See comparative defined for English-language learners

See comparative defined for kids

Examples of comparative in a Sentence

She did a comparative study of classical and modern art.
I'm taking a class in comparative anatomy.
a comparative analysis of the roles of women in different cultures
The comparative form of “happy” is “happier”; the comparative form of “good” is “better”; the comparative form of “clearly” is “more clearly.”

Recent Examples of comparative from the Web

The remaining three movements not only took their incandescence from that opening — one fuse lighting the next in an unbroken chain — but flourished even more engrossingly in the space left by Valcuha’s comparative restraint at the outset.

— joshua kosman, San Francisco Chronicle, "San Francisco Symphony does right by little-known Prokofiev," 4 May 2018
All this makes getting started with Oculus Go a comparative breeze.

— edward c. baig, USA TODAY, "Facebook's Oculus Go ditches computer and phone in latest, $199 test of virtual reality," 1 May 2018
The new contract did not guarantee equal pay to the men’s national team, despite the women’s comparative dominance.

— jennifer calfas, Time, "Why the U.S. Isn't Competing in the 2018 World Cup," 30 Apr. 2018
Acadia has previously indicated that its own comparative review found a much lower death rate among those taking Nuplazid than those with Parkinson’s disease psychosis before the drug was approved in 2016.

— bradley j. fikes, sandiegouniontribune.com, "No change in FDA's position on Parkinson's drug Nuplazid," 27 Apr. 2018
Goodell seemed almost ecstatic at the comparative quiet that greeted his arrival, compared to what happened here.

— ed rendell, Philly.com, "Rendell: The magic of the NFL draft," 27 Apr. 2018
As James Heckman observed in one comparative analysis, boys who received low-quality care suffered from worse health outcomes than boys who stayed at home with their mothers (interestingly, girls weren’t quite as affected).

— anne branigin, The Root, "The Future of Child Care: How to Create a Fairer, More Equitable System for Working Women and Women of Color," 28 Mar. 2018
Tuesday's report takes it a step further, doing a comparative analysis on exams that all students take, and based on the same set of standards.

— lori higgins, Detroit Free Press, "3rd grade reading: Michigan students show biggest decline, report shows," 6 Mar. 2018
Blue Shield of California, headquartered in San Francisco, is the first customer for Gemini Health, a Sausalito startup that aims to help doctors assess the comparative prices of drugs before prescribing them to patients.

— catherine ho, San Francisco Chronicle, "Prescription drugs are costly. This startup helps doctors find cheaper ones," 25 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'comparative.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of comparative

see ¹compare

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 15th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

comparative Synonyms

comparative

noun

Definition of comparative

1 a : one that compares with another especially on equal footing : rival

b : one that makes witty or mocking comparisons

2 : the comparative degree or form in a language

The comparative of tall is taller.

See comparative defined for English-language learners

Examples of comparative in a Sentence

“Taller” is the comparative of “tall.”

Recent Examples of comparative from the Web

Why this matters: Reports from an independent testing organization like AV-Comparatives are important for the average PC user.

— ian paul, PCWorld, "AV-Comparatives' anti-phishing results for 2017 put Avast, Bitdefender, Fortinet, and Kaspersky on top," 1 Aug. 2017
Other poll comparatives from March fell like dominoes.

— david paleologos, USA TODAY, "Paleologos on the poll: Replacing Obamacare is a sensitive 'Operation'," 29 June 2017

First Known Use of comparative

15th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

COMPARATIVE Defined for English Language Learners

comparative

adjective

Definition of comparative for English Language Learners

: seeming to be something when compared with others
: involving the act of looking at the ways that things are alike or different
grammar : of or relating to the form of an adjective or adverb that is used to indicate more of a particular quality

comparative

noun

Definition of comparative for English Language Learners

: the comparative form of an adjective or adverb : the form of an adjective or adverb that is used to indicate more of a particular quality

COMPARATIVE Defined for Kids

comparative

adjective com·par·a·tive \ kəm-ˈper-ə-tiv \

Definition of comparative for Students

1 : not entirely but more so than others : relative

We live in comparative freedom.

2 : of or relating to the form of an adjective or adverb that shows an increase in the quality that the adjective or adverb expresses

“Taller” is the comparative form of “tall.”

—

comparatively

adverb

It was a comparatively easy hike.

comparative

noun

Definition of comparative for Students

: the degree or form in a language that indicates an increase in the quality expressed by an adjective or adverb

“Taller” is the comparative of “tall.”

Medical Dictionary

comparative

adjective com·par·a·tive \ kəm-ˈpar-ət-iv \

medical Definition of comparative

: characterized by the systematic comparison of phenomena and especially of likenesses and dissimilarities

comparative anatomy

the study of blood types by comparative analysis

Law Dictionary

comparative

adjective com·par·a·tive \ kəm-ˈpar-ə-tiv \

legal Definition of comparative

: characterized by systematic comparison

comparative contribution, which apportions according to…respective fault
—W. L. Prosser and W. P. Keeton

—

comparatively

adverb

Learn More about comparative

See words that rhyme with comparative Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for comparative Spanish Central: Translation of comparative Nglish: Translation of comparative for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of comparative for Arabic speakers

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up comparative? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show

comparative

Definition of comparative

comparatively

comparativeness

Examples of comparative in a Sentence

Recent Examples of comparative from the Web

Origin and Etymology of comparative

comparative Synonyms

Synonyms

Antonyms

Near Antonyms

Related Words

comparative

Definition of comparative

Examples of comparative in a Sentence

Recent Examples of comparative from the Web

First Known Use of comparative

Phrases Related to COMPARATIVE

Related Phrases

COMPARATIVE Defined for English Language Learners

comparative

Definition of comparative for English Language Learners

comparative

Definition of comparative for English Language Learners

COMPARATIVE Defined for Kids

comparative

Definition of comparative for Students

comparatively

comparative

Definition of comparative for Students

Medical Dictionary

comparative

medical Definition of comparative

Law Dictionary

comparative

legal Definition of comparative

comparatively

Learn More about comparative

Seen and Heard

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games

May 2018 Words of the Day Quiz

12 Words from All Over the Map

'Ingenious' and 'Ingenuous': More Than a Typo

Trending: Melania Trump Undergoes 'Embolization'

Ghost Word