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
That juxtaposition yields silhouettes that feel soft yet confident—pieces meant to accompany life’s transitions rather than just accessorize them.
—Skylar Mitchell, Essence, 10 Dec. 2025
The whole thing works only as a juxtaposition, like Hieronymus Bosch’s The Garden of Earthly Delights.
—Bethy Squires, Vulture, 5 Dec. 2025
Rest assured, seeing the juxtaposition of the fiery eruption against a white backdrop is well worth the extra effort.
—Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 27 Nov. 2025
There’s an almost comical juxtaposition between AI and a business that stands for preserving heritage craftsmanship.
—Kirsty McGregor, Vogue, 27 Nov. 2025
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Skylar Mitchell, Essence, 10 Dec. 2025
The whole thing works only as a juxtaposition, like Hieronymus Bosch’s The Garden of Earthly Delights.
—Bethy Squires, Vulture, 5 Dec. 2025
Rest assured, seeing the juxtaposition of the fiery eruption against a white backdrop is well worth the extra effort.
—Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 27 Nov. 2025
There’s an almost comical juxtaposition between AI and a business that stands for preserving heritage craftsmanship.
—Kirsty McGregor, Vogue, 27 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for juxtaposition
Cite this Entry
“Juxtaposition.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/juxtaposition. Accessed 12 Dec. 2025.
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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