noun

comparison

kum-PAIR-ih-sun/kəmˈpærɪsn/

An examination or expression of how things are alike or different.

Holding the apples side by side allows a comparison of their size and color.

Comparison: two apples side by side, one small green smooth apple and one larger red speckled apple, adult brown hands holding each at equal height to examine differences.

Etymology

comLatintogether

+parLatinequal

+isonLatinact or process

The pieces suggest bringing things together as equals or matches. Comparison developed from resemblance and matching into the act of examining things alongside one another, whether to find similarities or differences.

In context

Ray Forensics5:16

the comparison process is the evaluation phase we look at the similarities and any differences

How to Compare Fingerprints - The Basics

More examples

Her comparison revealed several important differences.
There is no fair comparison between such different tasks.
He used a comparison with a garden to explain the system.

Forms

comparison · comparisons

compare verb — examine similarities and differences

Similar words

contrast: Emphasizes differences rather than both similarities and differences.
analogy: Uses a similarity to explain something rather than systematically comparing features.