Word
juxtaposition
Phoneticsjux·ta·po·si·tion
US/ˌdʒəkstəpəˈzɪʃən/
UK/dʒˌʌkstɐpəzˈɪʃən/
Definitions
01contrast by placement
n. putting two different things together to show how they are different or to create a surprising effect.
n. the act or instance of placing two or more things side by side, often to compare or contrast them, or to create an interesting effect.
“The juxtaposition of the modern building next to the old church was very striking.”
“The exhibition was praised for its clever juxtaposition of classical oil paintings and gritty, modern street photography.”
Academic
Usage
Often used with the preposition 'of' followed by two nouns, or 'between' two things.
Synonyms
Antonyms
02physical nearness
n. the state of being physically very close together.
n. the state of being close together or side by side; physical contiguity.
“The juxtaposition of the two houses made the narrow street feel even smaller.”
“The sudden juxtaposition of the two chemical compounds caused an unexpected reaction in the test tube.”
Technical · Formal
Usage
Common in scientific or technical descriptions of physical layout.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Real-World Examples
“The novel’s subtle humour comes in the juxtaposition between the details of this violence and the mundane challenges of Sonja’s life, such as learning to use a gated stick shift.” “Visually, this scuzzy, grotty take on Silent Hill from Glasgow studio Screen Burn leans on bold juxtapositions of colour, shadow, and ominous silhouettes.” “The juxtaposition showed a disconnect between Mr. Merz and the 30-some captains of German industry who accompanied him on his quick trip to China this week, a disconnect that is not limited to Beijing.” “That moment of friction, where two opposing worlds collide, is called juxtaposition.” Etymology
Borrowed from French juxtaposition, from Latin iuxtā (“near”) (from Latin iungō (“to join”)) + French position (“position”) (from Latin pōnō (“to place”)).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
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