# analogous /əˈnæɫəɡəs/ (US) · /ɐnˈæləɡəs/ (UK) Source: https://englishreference.com/word/analogous Updated: 2026-08-08 ## Senses ### 1. similar or comparable adjective · CEFR C1 · Academic · Formal similar to something else in a way that makes a comparison possible. For teachers: 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. ### 2. convergent evolution adjective · CEFR C1 · Technical describing body parts in different animals that do the same job but did not come from the same ancestor. For teachers: 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. ## Examples - The heart is analogous to a pump. - The teacher used a water pipe system as an analogy to explain how electricity flows through wires. - While the wings of birds and insects are analogous in function, they evolved independently and differ significantly in their underlying anatomical structure. --- From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.