analogous
Say it: uh-NAL-uh-gus /əˈnæləɡəs/ · adjective
What “analogous” means
Similar in a way that helps explain something.
More precisely: Comparable in certain respects, making a comparison useful.
Example: “Building a habit is analogous to building muscle: small, repeated effort.”
When to use it
In fairly formal explanations, when comparing different things that work similarly in a useful or revealing way.
Similar words
comparable, similar, parallel
Where it comes from
From Greek analogos, "proportionate."
Quick check
A teacher compares a heart pumping blood with a pump moving water through pipes. The two systems are…
analogous or identical?
Show the answer
analogous
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