English Reference
noun

similarity

n.
US /ˌsɪməˈɫɛɹəti/ UK /sˌɪmɪlˈæɹɪti/ sim·i·lar·i·ty UK spelling similarities

  1. 01 B1 Intermediate

    the state of being like someone or something else.

    the quality or state of being similar; a lack of significant difference between two entities.

    Simple

    The similarity between the two sisters is amazing; they look like twins.

    In context

    The striking similarity between the two architectural styles suggests a shared cultural influence during the late nineteenth century.

    Pitfall
    There is a similarity between him to his brother. There is a similarity between him and his brother.

    When comparing two people or things using 'similarity', use 'between X and Y' or 'to X'.

    differencedissimilarity
  2. 02 B1 Intermediate

    a specific feature or detail that is the same in two different things.

    a specific point, feature, or detail in which two things resemble each other.

    Simple

    The two movies have many similarities, such as the same main actor and a similar ending.

    In context

    Despite their different origins, the two languages share several structural similarities that fascinate historical linguists.

  3. 03 C1 Advanced Technical Math

    a change to a shape that keeps its angles and proportions the same, even if the size changes.

    a transformation that preserves angles and the ratios of distances, resulting in a shape that is the same as the original but potentially a different size.

    Simple

    In geometry class, we learned how a similarity can make a triangle larger without changing its shape.

    In context

    The proof relies on the properties of similarity to demonstrate that the two polygons, though different in scale, maintain identical internal angles.

    Usage

    Often used in the context of Euclidean geometry to describe 'similar triangles'.

Usage demonstrate similarity · identify similarity · note similarity


From French similarité. Morphologically similar + -ity

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Level B1 · Intermediate
Frequency Frequent
Updated