analogy

noun

anal·​o·​gy ə-ˈna-lə-jē 

plural analogies

1

a

: a comparison of two otherwise unlike things based on resemblance of a particular aspect

b

: resemblance in some particulars between things otherwise unlike : similarity

2

: inference that if two or more things agree with one another in some respects they will probably agree in others

3

: correspondence between the members of pairs or sets of linguistic forms that serves as a basis for the creation of another form

4

evolutionary biology : correspondence or similarity in form or function between parts (such as the wings of birds and insects) of unrelated or distantly related species that is the result of convergent evolution compare homology, homoplasy

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Digging Into the Most Common Meaning of Analogy

In its most common use, analogy has to do with comparison of things based on those things being alike in some way. For example, one can make or draw an analogy between the seasons of the year and the stages of life. People also reason by way of analogy, asserting, for example, that abandoning a project is like leaving a house partway built. Although an analogy can be summarized quickly, as in these examples, an analogy actually encompasses the comparison or inference itself, and is therefore different from figures of speech, like metaphors and similes, which are forms of expression.

Some tests ask you to identify analogies, finding the second of a pair that has the same relationship as a completed pair. Analogy tests often look like this:

ice : cold :: steel : ____

a. hard b. loud c. fresh d. small

Because the relationship between ice and cold is that coldness is a quality of ice, the word that goes with steel is hard, since hardness is a quality of steel.

The word analogy (which comes from analogous) traces back by way of Latin to a Greek word meaning "proportionate." That word has a root in the Greek word logos, meaning "reason."

Choose the Right Synonym for analogy

likeness, similarity, resemblance, similitude, analogy mean agreement or correspondence in details.

likeness implies a closer correspondence than similarity which often implies that things are merely somewhat alike.

a remarkable likeness to his late father

some similarity between the two cases

resemblance implies similarity chiefly in appearance or external qualities.

statements that bear little resemblance to the truth

similitude applies chiefly to correspondence between abstractions.

two schools of social thought showing points of similitude

analogy implies likeness or parallelism in relations rather than in appearance or qualities.

pointed out analogies to past wars

Examples of analogy in a Sentence

He does, though, suffer from the occupational deformation of international relations specialists: an enthusiasm for ransacking the past in search of precedents, analogies, patterns, and cycles that might explain the present and forecast the future. —Tony Judt, New York Book Review, 10 Apr. 2003

People who do this call themselves "white-hat" hackers—good people who show other people their vulnerabilities. Take the following analogy: I've designed a great new lock pick, and I'm going to give this great new gadget away to show everyone that the typical door lock is ineffective against my new pick. —John C. Dvorak, PC Magazine, 4 Apr. 2000

It has often been said that movie stars are the royalty of America. (The better analogy, really, is that the royals are the movie stars of Britain.) —Neal Gabler, Life: The Movie, 1998

Parts of the far-infrared sky look like colonies of spiders gone mad. The fine structure seen there is called cirrus, by analogy with filamentary clouds on Earth. —Virginia Trimble et al., Sky & Telescope, January 1995

Recent Examples on the Web

So there's no doubt that there is sort of an arms race or a Cold War, like, pick your analogy. —Taylor Wilson, USA TODAY, 4 Nov. 2024

But the analogy to the entertainment industry breaks apart on the matter of what the fans are paying for. —Geoff Colvin, Fortune, 2 Nov. 2024

To go back to the public bus system analogy, specialized requests like data centers and EV charging networks are essentially asking for special stops on the route. —Greg Robinson, Forbes, 1 Nov. 2024

The straw analogy will work to get water up about 20 or 30 feet. —Paul Cappiello, The Courier-Journal, 1 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English analogie, borrowed from Middle French & Latin; Middle French, borrowed from Latin analogia "ratio, proportion, correspondence in the inflection and derivation of words, the use of this correspondence in word derivation," borrowed from Greek analogía "proportion, relation, correspondence in the inflection and derivation of words," from análogos "proportionate, conformable, analogous" + -ia -y entry 2

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Phrases Containing analogy

• draw/make an analogy between

Kids Definition

analogy

noun

anal·​o·​gy ə-ˈnal-ə-jē 

plural analogies

1

a

: resemblance in some details between things otherwise unlike : similarity

b

: comparison based on such resemblance

2

: similarity in function between bodily parts of different structure and origin

analogical

ˌan-ᵊl-läj-i-kəl

adjective

analogically

-k(ə-)lē

adverb

Medical Definition

analogy

noun

anal·​o·​gy ə-ˈnal-ə-jē 

plural analogies

: functional similarity between anatomical parts without similarity of structure and origin compare homology sense 1