B1noun1K

Comparison

UK /["/kəmˈpærɪsn/"]/US /["/kəmˈpærɪsn/"]/

Definition

the process of comparing two or more people or things

In simple words: Looking at how things are similar or different.

Examples

  • The comparison between the two models shows a significant difference in performance.
  • She made a comparison of prices before deciding on which product to buy.
  • In her essay, she discusses the comparison of traditional and modern education methods.
  • The comparison of the results from both experiments revealed interesting trends.
  • When making a comparison, it's essential to focus on relevant criteria and not just personal opinions.

Usage notes

Use 'comparison' in academic or analytical contexts. It's appropriate for discussions about similarities and differences but less common in casual conversation.

Grammar pattern

comparison + of + object

Memory hint

Think of 'compare' + 'ison' as a mission to find similarities and differences.

Collocations

  • favourable/​favorable
  • unfavourable/​unfavorable
  • fair
  • draw
  • make
  • perform
  • by comparison (with)
  • for comparison
  • in comparison to
  • a basis for comparison
  • a point of comparison
  • for the purposes of comparison
  • favourable/​favorable
  • unfavourable/​unfavorable
  • fair
  • draw
  • make
  • perform
  • by comparison (with)
  • for comparison
  • in comparison to
  • a basis for comparison
  • a point of comparison
  • for the purposes of comparison

Synonyms

  • contrast
  • similarity
  • assessment
  • evaluation
  • analysis

Antonyms

  • contrast
  • dissimilarity

Common mistakes

  • Confused with 'comparative' — remember 'comparison' is the act.
  • Using 'compare' instead of 'comparison' in noun form.
  • Incorrectly using 'comparison' with verbs.