analogy

An analogy is a likeness or a comparison between two things that have some features that are the same and others which are different. (noun)

A Model T Ford and a Volkswagen are both cars, have four wheels, and run on gasoline so comparing them would be an example of an analogy.

See analogy in Webster's New World College Dictionary

noun pl. analogies

similarity in some respects between things otherwise unlike; partial resemblance
the likening of one thing to another on the basis of some similarity between the two
Biol. similarity in function between parts dissimilar in origin and structure, as the wing of a bird and that of an insect
Linguis. the process by which words, constructions, or pronunciations conform to the pattern of other, often unrelated, ones: “energize” is formed from “energy” by analogy with “apologize” from “apology”; Old English “handa” became “hands” on analogy with other plurals in -s
Logic an inference from certain admitted resemblances between two or more things to a probable further similarity between them

See analogy in American Heritage Dictionary 4

(ə-nălˈə-jē)

noun pl. a·nal·o·gies

a. Similarity in some respects between things that are otherwise dissimilar.
b. A comparison based on such similarity. See Synonyms at likeness.
Biology Correspondence in function or position between organs of dissimilar evolutionary origin or structure.
A form of logical inference or an instance of it, based on the assumption that if two things are known to be alike in some respects, then they must be alike in other respects.
Linguistics The process by which words or morphemes are re-formed or created on the model of existing grammatical patterns in a language, often leading to greater regularity in paradigms, as evidenced by helped replacing holp and holpen as the past tense and past participle of help on the model of verbs such as yelp, yelped, yelped.

Learn more about analogy

» analogy synonyms

Related Articles

» Analogy Examples

link/cite print suggestion box

More from YD