# analogy

/əˈnæɫədʒi/ (US) · /ɐnˈælədʒi/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/analogy
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. a comparison for explanation

noun · CEFR B2 · Academic

a comparison between two things that are similar in some way, often used to help someone understand a difficult idea.

For teachers: 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.

- 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'.

### 2. linguistic pattern

noun · CEFR C1 · Academic · Technical

the way new words or grammar rules are created based on patterns that already exist in a language.

For teachers: 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.

- 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.

## Examples

- He used the analogy of a computer to explain how the brain works.
- The teacher drew an analogy between the flow of water in pipes and the movement of electricity through wires.
- To illustrate the concept of social hierarchy, the philosopher employed an analogy of a beehive where every individual has a predetermined role that serves the collective good.

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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.