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adjective

apposite

AP-uh-zit

Apposite (adjective) means Very suitable to the particular situation or point being made; strikingly to the point. Example: “She closed the eulogy with an apposite line from Auden.”

adjective
1
Very suitable to the particular situation or point being made; strikingly to the point.
"She closed the eulogy with an apposite line from Auden."
"His question was brief and unusually apposite."

How to use apposite

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishExactly right for the moment or the point being made.

When to use it

Formal and literary. It appears mostly in reviews, essays and speeches; 'apt' or 'fitting' does the same job in ordinary conversation.

Memory tip

Stress the first syllable and keep the vowel short: AP-uh-zit, not uh-POZ-it.

Trace the full origin ↓
Easily confused with
opposite apposite/apt opposed
Common pairings
an apposite quotation apposite comment particularly apposite apposite example
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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

She closed the eulogy with an _____ line from Auden.

Etymology

From Latin appositus, the past participle of apponere 'to place near', from ad 'to' and ponere 'to put'.

Origin: Latin

Related words

Rhymes for apposite

See all rhymes for apposite →

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between apposite and opposite?

They are unrelated despite looking almost identical. Apposite means well suited to the point at hand, while opposite means facing or entirely contrary. Saying 'an apposite remark' praises it; 'the opposite remark' means the reverse of it.

Is apposite the same as apt?

They overlap closely, but apt can also describe a tendency ('apt to forget') and can describe a person's talent, while apposite only ever means well matched to a specific context. Apposite is also noticeably more formal.

What is the meaning of apposite?

"apposite" (adjective) means very suitable to the particular situation or point being made; strikingly to the point.

What is another word for apposite?

Other words for "apposite" include apt, pertinent, fitting, relevant, germane.

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Definitions: FreeDict original editorial · etymology from FreeDict original editorial