Word
analogy
Meanings
A comparison between two different things to explain or clarify an idea by showing how they are similar in a specific way.
A similarity or parallel between situations, features, or processes that helps you reason about one by relating it to another.
Definition
An analogy is a comparison that highlights a similarity between two different things to explain or clarify an idea.
An analogy compares two things that are not the same but share an important similarity. People use analogies to make complex or abstract ideas easier to understand. A strong analogy focuses on the relevant shared feature rather than superficial details.
Examples
- I used an analogy to show how a computer network can resemble a system of roads.
- You can test the analogy by checking whether the similarities actually matter to the argument.
- She rejected the analogy because it ignored a key difference between the two situations.
- They extended the analogy from biology to engineering to make the mechanism easier to visualize.
Common mistake
Learners sometimes say "make an analogy with" when the more natural form is "draw/make an analogy between" two things.
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