juxtapose

verb

jux·​ta·​pose ˈjək-stə-ˌpōz 

juxtaposed; juxtaposing

transitive verb

: to place (different things) side by side (as to compare them or contrast them or to create an interesting effect)

juxtapose unexpected combinations of colors, shapes and ideas

—J. F. T. Bugental

Did you know?

Is juxtapose a back-formation?

A back-formation is a word that has come about through the removal of a prefix or a suffix from a longer word. Etymologists believe juxtapose is a back-formation that was created when people trimmed down the noun juxtaposition. Historical evidence supports the idea: juxtaposition shows up in the 17th century and juxtapose in the 19th.  Juxtaposition is a combination of Latin juxta, meaning "near," and English "position."

Examples of juxtapose in a Sentence

a display that juxtaposes modern art with classical art

Recent Examples on the Web

Throughout the marketplace, which juxtaposes large-scale site-specific immersive brand popups with white-box pop-up showrooms, attendees clamored for rare and limited-edition takeaways from more than 100 brands. —Melinda Sheckells, The Hollywood Reporter, 9 May 2024

But juxtaposed that with lows, that sort of puts everything into context. —Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 8 May 2024

These objects are juxtaposed alongside digital detritus — circuit boards, resistors — that line the wooden boxes like wallpaper. —Evan Nicole Brown, New York Times, 8 May 2024

What's more, Sweeney's shocking Met Gala hair juxtaposed with her floral Miu Miu custom light-blue tulle gown with all-over floral crystal embroidery, and De Beers jewel, was very much giving chic yet edgy Snow White with a hint of Cinderella. —Danielle Sinay, Glamour, 7 May 2024

She’s spent her life devoted to fashion and finds joy mixing juxtaposing styles: Think pairing masculine and feminine—and vintage and modern—for a unique twist. —Vogue Club, Vogue, 7 May 2024

When scenes that happen years apart are juxtaposed, the meaning is self-evident. —Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 6 May 2024

Groups of smiling students clad in graduation gowns to get their pictures taken were juxtaposed by a group of more than 100 people expressing their support for Israel in the ongoing conflict in Gaza. —Perry Vandell, The Arizona Republic, 5 May 2024

In one of the videos, Rubinstein reads out a hate post — only to juxtapose it with his personal testimony about his family’s suffering during the Holocaust. —Kirsten Grieshaber, Fortune, 2 May 2024

Word History

Etymology

probably back-formation from juxtaposition

First Known Use

1851, in the meaning defined above

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Kids Definition

juxtapose

verb

jux·​ta·​pose ˈjək-stə-ˌpōz 

juxtaposed; juxtaposing

: to place side by side

juxtaposition

ˌjək-stə-pə-ˈzish-ən

noun