comparable

C1 · Advanced Academic

adj. possible to compare because the things are in the same category.

adj. capable of being compared; possessing a common basis for evaluation.

“We need to make sure the data sets are comparable before we start the analysis.”

“The researchers struggled to find comparable groups for the study because the regional demographics varied so significantly.”

C2 · Proficiency Mathematics Technical

adj. in math, two things that can be put in a specific order.

adj. describing two elements in a partially ordered set such that one is either greater than or equal to the other.

“In this specific set, not every pair of numbers is comparable.”

“The theorem only applies if the elements are comparable within the defined partial order of the system.”

C2 · Proficiency Science Technical

adj. an adjective that can have 'more' or 'most' forms.

adj. describing an adjective or adverb that can take comparative and superlative inflections.

“Words like 'big' are comparable, but words like 'dead' usually are not.”

“The student asked whether absolute adjectives like 'unique' should be treated as comparable in formal writing.”

C1 · Advanced Countable noun Formal · Technical

n. a thing that is similar to another and used for comparison, especially in business.

n. an item, such as a property or a company, that is used as a benchmark to determine the value of another similar item.

“The real estate agent looked at recent comparables in the neighborhood to set the price.”

“Without recent sales comparables, the appraisers found it difficult to justify the high valuation of the historic estate.”