like-for-like
6 synonyms and 0 antonyms for like-for-like, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Adjective — Comparing two things on exactly the same basis, so that the comparison is fair.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Synonyms by Meaning
1. adjective
Comparing two things on exactly the same basis, so that the comparison is fair.
“On a like-for-like basis, sales rose four per cent.”
2. adjective
In retail and business reporting, describing figures that exclude new or closed outlets so that only the performance of the same stores in both periods is counted.
“Like-for-like sales fell, even though total revenue grew after the chain opened twelve new branches.”
How to use like-for-like
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Common in British business journalism and in insurance and construction; "same-store" is preferred in the US.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between like-for-like sales and total sales?
Total sales count everything a business took in, including money from shops or products it did not have last year. Like-for-like sales strip out those additions and closures, so they show whether the existing business is genuinely growing rather than just getting bigger.
Is like-for-like hyphenated?
It is normally hyphenated when it comes before a noun, as in "like-for-like growth". Written after the verb, or in the phrase "on a like-for-like basis", the hyphens are often kept as well; both styles are accepted.
What is the American equivalent of like-for-like?
American retail reporting usually says "same-store sales" or "comparable-store sales" where British reporting says "like-for-like sales". The calculation behind them is the same.