# equivalent

/ɪˈkwɪvəɫənt/ (US) · /ɪkwˈɪvələnt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/equivalent
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. equal thing

noun · CEFR B2

a person or thing that has the same value, purpose, or effect as something else.

For teachers: a person or thing that is equal to or corresponds with another in value, amount, function, or meaning.

- The price of the car is the equivalent of a whole year's salary.
- In many ways, the local council is the administrative equivalent of a small parliament, managing budgets and public services for the entire region.

### 2. equal in value

adjective · CEFR B2

having the same amount, value, or importance as something else.

For teachers: equal in value, measure, force, effect, or significance.

- Eight kilometres is roughly equivalent to five miles.
- The company offered a compensation package equivalent to six months of the employee's base salary.

Usage: often followed by the preposition 'to'

### 3. mathematics/logic

adjective · CEFR C1 · Technical · Academic

describing two things that mean the same thing or result in the same value in math or logic.

For teachers: relating to sets with a one-to-one correspondence or logical statements that are true under the same conditions.

- In this equation, the two expressions are equivalent.
- The professor demonstrated that the two logical propositions were equivalent, meaning that if one is true, the other must also be true.

### 4. chemistry

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

the specific amount of a substance that reacts with a fixed amount of another substance.

For teachers: the mass of a given substance which will combine with or displace a fixed quantity of another substance.

- The student calculated the chemical equivalent of the acid used in the experiment.
- Determining the electrochemical equivalent is essential for predicting the mass of a substance liberated during electrolysis.

## Examples

- The price is the equivalent of two weeks' salary.
- In many countries, the local high school diploma is considered the equivalent of the British A-level qualification.
- While the two chemical compounds are not identical, they function as functional equivalents in this specific reaction, producing the same end product without altering the safety profile.

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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.