Word
analogy
Phoneticsanal·o·gy
US/əˈnæɫədʒi/
UK/ɐnˈælədʒi/
Definitions
01a comparison for explanation
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun Academic
n. a comparison between two things that are similar in some way, often used to help someone understand a difficult idea.
n. a comparison between two things, typically for the purpose of explanation or clarification. Often functions as a rhetorical device where a complex system is mapped onto a simpler one.
日本語:類推※
“The teacher used the analogy of a busy motorway to explain how the internet works.”
“To explain the concept of electrical current to the students, the professor drew an analogy between the flow of electrons and water moving through a pipe.”
Usage
Commonly used with the verbs 'draw', 'make', or 'use' and the preposition 'between'.
Pitfall
He made an analogy of the human brain and a computer.
He drew an analogy between the human brain and a computer.
We usually 'draw' or 'make' an analogy 'between' two things.
Synonyms
Antonyms
02linguistic pattern
C1 · Advanced Uncountable noun Science Academic · Technical
n. the way new words or grammar rules are created based on patterns that already exist in a language.
n. the process by which words or forms are created or reformed according to existing patterns in a language. This often explains why irregular verbs sometimes become regular over time.
日本語:類推※
“Children often say 'buyed' instead of 'bought' because they are following the analogy of other past tense verbs.”
“Historical linguists often cite analogy as a primary driver for morphological change, as speakers unconsciously apply productive patterns to irregular lexical items.”
Usage
In linguistics, this is often an uncountable process.
Synonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “analogy” in context.
Verb
01. draw analogy
“It is possible to draw a close analogy between the two historical events.”
verb + noun
02. use analogy
“The professor often uses an analogy to explain complex scientific concepts to his students.”
verb + noun
Real-World Examples
“I don't think I have to take the last shot, to use a basketball analogy.” “Since I was little, if I couldn’t understand an emotion, I used scientific examples and historical events as analogies and metaphors to explain my emotional state.” Etymology
From Latin analogia, from Ancient Greek ἀναλογίᾱ (analogíā), from ἀνα- (ana-) + λόγος (lógos, “speech, reckoning”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
Related words
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 · AdvancedOxford
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/analogy
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「日本語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0