comparison /kəmˈperɪsən/

Etymology

From Latin "comparatio", derived from "comparare" meaning "to pair together, match, or bring together"

Definitions

1. The act of comparing or the process of being compared

   • "The comparison of different mortgage rates helped them choose the best loan."

2. The quality of being similar or analogous

   • "There's no comparison between the two restaurants - this one is far superior."

3. A statement or estimate of similarities and differences

   • "He made a comparison between life in the city and life in the countryside."

Different Forms

• Verb: compare
• Adjective: comparable, comparative
• Adverb: comparatively
• Related Noun: comparability

Synonyms

• contrast
• correlation
• parallel
• analogy
• juxtaposition
• assessment

Usage Note

Often used in phrases:

• "in comparison to/with"
• "by comparison"
• "make a comparison"
• "beyond comparison"

Memory Tricks

1. Break it into "com" (together) + "pair" (match) + "-ison" (action/process)
2. Think: "When you pair things together (com-), you make a comparison"
3. Remember the phrase "comparing apples to oranges" - a common expression using the root word

Common Collocations

• direct comparison
• meaningful comparison
• fair comparison
• valid comparison
• price comparison

Common Mistakes

• Don't confuse with "contrast" - comparison can show both similarities and differences, while contrast focuses on differences
• The preposition "to" or "with" follows "comparison": "in comparison to/with" (not "than")