Word
analogous
Phoneticsanal·o·gous
US/əˈnæɫəɡəs/
UK/ɐnˈæləɡəs/
Definitions
01similar or comparable
C1 · Advanced Academic · Formal
adj. similar to something else in a way that makes a comparison possible.
adj. corresponding in some particular way; having a resemblance that allows for an analogy to be drawn. Often followed by the preposition 'to'.
“The wings of a plane are analogous to the wings of a bird because both help with flight.”
“The relationship between a CEO and a company is often seen as analogous to that of a captain and a ship, where one person must navigate through storms.”
Usage
Typically used with the preposition 'to' when comparing two specific entities.
Synonyms
Antonyms
02convergent evolution
C1 · Advanced Science Technical
adj. describing body parts in different animals that do the same job but did not come from the same ancestor.
adj. performing a similar function but having a different evolutionary origin, such as the wings of insects and birds. This is the opposite of homologous.
“The fins of a fish and the flippers of a whale are analogous structures.”
“Biologists distinguish between analogous traits, which result from convergent evolution, and homologous traits, which are inherited from a common ancestor.”
Usage
Used specifically in evolutionary biology to describe functional similarity without shared ancestry.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “analogous” in context.
Adjective
01. analogous manner
“The two chemical reactions behave in an analogous manner when exposed to high temperatures.”
adj + noun
02. analogous to
“The human brain is often described as being analogous to a complex computer system.”
adj + prep
Real-World Examples
“In most insects that respond to sound pressure, the structure analogous to the tympanal organ is a sac filled with air.” “Dogs are much easier to work with, with the hope that a successful treatment could not only provide treatment for CAA but also shed light on the analogous human cancer .” Etymology
From Latin analogus, from Ancient Greek ᾰ̓νᾰ́λογος (ănắlogos); Its English equivalent is analogue + -ous. The application to similar features of organisms is nearly as old as the general sense. Recognizably modern uses of the second sense, distinguishing analogous from homologous, appear in the mid-19th century.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/analogous