adj
Common
equivalent
ih-KWIH-vuh-luhnt
Equivalent (adj) means Equal in value, meaning, or effect, though not necessarily identical. Example: “A US gallon is roughly equivalent to 3.8 liters.”
adj
1
Equal in value, meaning, or effect, though not necessarily identical.
"A US gallon is roughly equivalent to 3.8 liters."
"Her role is equivalent to that of a manager, though her title is different."
"Two cups of this flour are equivalent to one cup of the other."
noun
1
Something that has the same value, function, or effect as something else.
"A cup of this strong coffee is the equivalent of two cups of the weaker kind."
"Is there an equivalent of this qualification in other countries?"
"There's no exact British equivalent of this American dish."
How to use equivalent
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishBeing effectively equal to something else, or the equal counterpart of it, even if it's not exactly the same.
Common pairings
equivalent to
roughly equivalent
nearest equivalent
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Word forms
- Plural
- equivalents
- Third person singular
- equivalents
- Past tense
- equivalented
- Comparative
- more equivalent
- Superlative
- most equivalent
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
A US gallon is roughly _____ to 3.8 liters.
Etymology
From Latin aequivalens, "having equal power," from aequus ("equal") + valere ("to be strong, have power").
Synonyms
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equal
comparable
corresponding
tantamount
matching
commensurate
interchangeable
eq
combining weight
equivalent weight
Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for equivalent
See all rhymes for equivalent →Frequently asked questions
What does “equivalent” mean?
The word “equivalent” means equal in value, meaning, or effect, though not necessarily identical. In plain terms, being effectively equal to something else, or the equal counterpart of it, even if it's not exactly the same.
How do you pronounce “equivalent”?
“Equivalent” is pronounced ih-KWIH-vuh-luhnt (/ɪˈkwɪvələnt/ in IPA).
How do you use “equivalent” in a sentence?
Here is “equivalent” used in a sentence: “A US gallon is roughly equivalent to 3.8 liters.”
What part of speech is “equivalent”?
Depending on how it is used, “equivalent” can be an adjective and a noun.
Where does the word “equivalent” come from?
The word “equivalent” comes from Latin. From Latin aequivalens, "having equal power," from aequus ("equal") + valere ("to be strong, have power").
Is “equivalent” a common word?
“Equivalent” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “equivalent” have?
“Equivalent” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: equal in value, meaning, or effect, though not necessarily identical.
What is the difference between equivalent and equal?
Equal means exactly the same in amount, value, or size — two equal halves are identical. Equivalent means the same in value, meaning, or effect, but not necessarily identical in form. A dollar and its exchange-rate amount in euros are equivalent, not equal; they buy the same but are different things.
What is an example of something equivalent?
Everyday examples include measurements — one kilometre is equivalent to about 0.62 miles — and money, where a price in one currency is equivalent to an amount in another. Two differently worded sentences can be equivalent in meaning, and in maths, fractions like 1/2 and 2/4 are equivalent because they share the same value.
Does equivalent mean identical?
Not quite. Equivalent things match in value, meaning, or effect, but they can differ in form or appearance. Identical things are exactly the same in every respect. So a debit card and cash can be equivalent for paying a bill, even though they are clearly not identical objects.
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