comparison
noun
com·par·i·son
kəm-ˈper-ə-sən 
-ˈpa-rə-
1
: the act or process of comparing: such as
a
: the representing of one thing or person as similar to or like another
His poetry invites comparison with the poems of Robert Frost.
b
: an examination of two or more items to establish similarities and dissimilarities
His faults seem minor by comparison.
a comparison of the sports cars
2
: identity of features : similarity
several points of comparison between the two
3
: the modification of an adjective or adverb to denote different levels of quality, quantity, or relation
Examples of comparison in a Sentence
a comparison of the data from the two studies
the comparison of monkeys to humans
I don't think comparisons of her situation and mine are appropriate.
Recent Examples on the Web
The team found in patients with severe Covid, several fungi commonly found in the gut had increased antibodies against them (in comparison to uninfected people).
—
Maggie Chen, WIRED, 19 Apr. 2024
For example, 14% of Native adults are uninsured in comparison to their white Californians, who have an uninsured rate of 5%.
—Emma Hall, Sacramento Bee, 18 Apr. 2024
By comparison, there were 1 million such reports to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) in 2014, long before nearly 95% of children ages 13 to 17 reported using social media.
—Josh Meyer, USA TODAY, 17 Apr. 2024
By comparison, the typical facelift recovery time includes about three to four weeks of swelling, with patients usually needing pain medication for about four to six days after the procedure.
—Kara Nesvig, Allure, 17 Apr. 2024
Similarly, 2024’s first-quarter comparison to the same time a year ago, when the appetite for demand looked different, is the reason for a stark difference.
—Prarthana Prakash, Fortune Europe, 17 Apr. 2024
But in comparison to the Mini, the MiniMax has a beefier hook, a more compact head design, and three weight options (1/4, 3/8, and 1/2 ounce) instead of just 1/4 ounce.
—Shaye Baker, Field & Stream, 17 Apr. 2024
Observers described it, for lack of a better comparison, as looking like a U.F.O. Leng called it the BlackFly.
—Gideon Lewis-Kraus, The New Yorker, 15 Apr. 2024
Although the price tag to help Ukraine seems enormous, the amount of money is small in comparison with what America spends on its own defense—and provides an incalculable investment in U.S. national security.
—Mariia Hlyten, The Atlantic, 7 Apr. 2024
Maggie Chen, WIRED, 19 Apr. 2024
For example, 14% of Native adults are uninsured in comparison to their white Californians, who have an uninsured rate of 5%.
—Emma Hall, Sacramento Bee, 18 Apr. 2024
By comparison, there were 1 million such reports to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) in 2014, long before nearly 95% of children ages 13 to 17 reported using social media.
—Josh Meyer, USA TODAY, 17 Apr. 2024
By comparison, the typical facelift recovery time includes about three to four weeks of swelling, with patients usually needing pain medication for about four to six days after the procedure.
—Kara Nesvig, Allure, 17 Apr. 2024
Similarly, 2024’s first-quarter comparison to the same time a year ago, when the appetite for demand looked different, is the reason for a stark difference.
—Prarthana Prakash, Fortune Europe, 17 Apr. 2024
But in comparison to the Mini, the MiniMax has a beefier hook, a more compact head design, and three weight options (1/4, 3/8, and 1/2 ounce) instead of just 1/4 ounce.
—Shaye Baker, Field & Stream, 17 Apr. 2024
Observers described it, for lack of a better comparison, as looking like a U.F.O. Leng called it the BlackFly.
—Gideon Lewis-Kraus, The New Yorker, 15 Apr. 2024
Although the price tag to help Ukraine seems enormous, the amount of money is small in comparison with what America spends on its own defense—and provides an incalculable investment in U.S. national security.
—Mariia Hlyten, The Atlantic, 7 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'comparison.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near comparison
Cite this Entry
“Comparison.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/comparison. Accessed 25 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
comparison
noun
com·par·i·son
kəm-ˈpar-ə-sən
1
: the act of comparing : the state of being compared
2
: change in the form of an adjective or an adverb (as by having -er or -est added or more or most prefixed) to show different levels of quality, quantity, or relation
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