# comparative

/kəmˈpɛɹətɪv/ (US) · /kəmpˈæɹətˌɪv/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. involving comparison

adjective · CEFR B2

connected with or based on comparing two or more things.

For teachers: relating to or involving the act of comparison as a primary method of analysis.

- The researchers conducted a comparative study of the two different school systems.
- A comparative analysis of the two legal frameworks reveals significant discrepancies in how they handle digital privacy rights.

### 2. relative

adjective · CEFR B2

measured by comparing something to others, rather than by a fixed standard.

For teachers: estimated by comparison; relative rather than absolute in nature.

- After years of war, the country is finally enjoying a period of comparative peace.
- The startup's comparative success in a crowded market can be attributed to its aggressive pricing strategy and lean operational model.

### 3. grammatical form

noun · CEFR B1 · Technical

the form of an adjective or adverb used to compare two things, like 'faster' or 'more expensive'.

For teachers: the intermediate degree of comparison for an adjective or adverb, typically formed in English via the suffix '-er' or the periphrastic 'more'.

- The comparative of 'good' is 'better', and the comparative of 'bad' is 'worse'.
- Students often struggle with irregular comparatives, mistakenly applying standard suffix rules to words like 'far' or 'little'.

Usage: In English, short adjectives take '-er' while longer adjectives use 'more' before the word.

### 4. comparison data

noun · CEFR C1 · Academic · Formal

information or figures used to compare one period or thing with another.

For teachers: data points or statistics, often used in plural, that facilitate a direct comparison between different sets of results.

- The report includes the comparatives from last year to show our growth.
- Without reliable historical comparatives, it is difficult for the board to determine whether the current quarterly earnings represent a true upward trend.

## Examples

- The word 'faster' is the comparative of 'fast'.
- When writing your essay, remember that the comparative of 'good' is 'better', not 'gooder'.
- While most short adjectives form the comparative by adding a suffix, longer words require a periphrastic construction using 'more' to maintain phonetic balance.

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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.