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

also : the state of being so placed

contrasting shapes placed in juxtaposition to each other

juxtapositional

ˌjək-stə-pə-ˈzi-sh(ə-)nəl

 

adjective

Examples of juxtaposition in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Yeah, that juxtaposition of us at this fancy hotel. —Maya Georgi, Rolling Stone, 25 June 2025

The juxtaposition of the traditions is fairly straightforward, but an altogether different figure—or, rather, the suggestion of one, looming in the background—makes the image somewhat unsettling. —Ana Karina Zatarain, New Yorker, 21 June 2025

One key juxtaposition came in how the audience understood Saw before and after this moment. —Ben Travers, IndieWire, 20 June 2025

The juxtaposition of popular art’s messy vulgarity with the pristine aspirations of high art is surprisingly uninvolving. —Christopher Knight, Los Angeles Times, 16 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

Latin juxta near + English position — more at joust

First Known Use

1654, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for juxtaposition

• academician
• cycloaddition
• decomposition
• diagnostician
• disinhibition
• indisposition
• interposition
• mathematician
• metacognition
• metaphysician
• neurotransmission
• nonrecognition

Medical 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

juxtapose

ˈjək-stə-ˌpōz 

transitive verb

juxtaposed; juxtaposing