comparison

The word “comparison” means an act of comparing two or more things, or the result of doing so. In plain terms, the act, or result, of examining things side by side.

“Comparison” is pronounced kuhm-PAR-ih-suhn (/kəmˈpæɹ.ɪ.sən/ in IPA).

Here is “comparison” used in a sentence: “A quick comparison of prices showed the online store was cheaper.”

“Comparison” is a noun.

The word “comparison” comes from Latin. From Old French comparison, from Latin comparatio, from comparare ("to compare").

“Comparison” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.

Comparison examines two or more things to find how they are alike, and often how they differ too. Contrast focuses specifically on the differences between them. Comparison is the broader act, weighing similarities and differences together, while contrast zeroes in on what sets things apart. The two are often used side by side.

Everyday comparison might mean weighing two phones by price, features, and battery life before buying. In language, comparison appears in figures of speech: a simile compares using "like" or "as," as in "brave as a lion," while a metaphor compares directly. Each sets things side by side to judge or illuminate them.

In grammar, comparison is how adjectives and adverbs change to show degree. The positive form is the base word, like "tall." The comparative compares two things, as in "taller," and the superlative marks the extreme among three or more, as in "tallest." These are known as the degrees of comparison.

Comparisons help us understand and decide. By setting things side by side, we can weigh options, spot patterns, and judge quality, value, or difference. They make the unfamiliar clearer by relating it to something known, and they underpin everyday choices, scientific analysis, and persuasive writing alike, which is why comparison is such a basic tool of thought.