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

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

juxtapositional

ˌjək-stə-pə-ˈzi-sh(ə-)nəl 

adjective

Examples of juxtaposition in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

There was also a cohort of local vignerons, whose understated practicality was a welcome juxtaposition to the occasionally conspicuous wealth of the international collector crowd. — George Nelson, ARTnews.com, 8 July 2026

This is notable given the juxtaposition with the falling alternative asset management stocks all year. — Josh Brown,sean Russo, CNBC, 6 July 2026

The juxtaposition of gold chrome French tip on a milky white base is so striking. — Daisy Maldonado, InStyle, 4 July 2026

The juxtaposition of the apex masculinity of the professional athlete with traditionally feminine signifiers of the luxury handbag does seem to short circuit something in the wider culture. — Teddy Brown, CNN Money, 30 June 2026

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