analogous

/əˈnæləɡəs/ formal

Say it: uh-NAL-uh-gus

adjective Comparable in certain respects, allowing for a comparison or analogy to be drawn, especially to explain or clarify.
The relationship between a teacher and a student is analogous to that of a guide and a traveler.

📖 Seen in the wild

The human heart is analogous to a pump, circulating blood throughout the body.
collected by @vocablast

✏️ analogous in a sentence

The wings of a bird and the wings of an insect are analogous because they both facilitate flight but evolved independently.
The judge determined that the legal precedent was not sufficiently analogous to the current case to be applied.
A company's strategic planning process is analogous to a military campaign, requiring careful assessment of resources and opposition.
Historians noted that the economic conditions were closely analogous to those that preceded the 1929 stock market crash.
In many ways, learning a new programming language is analogous to learning a new spoken language; both have their own grammar and syntax.
The heart's function as a pump is analogous to a mechanical water pump.
She found herself in a situation roughly analogous to the one her grandmother had faced a generation earlier.

🔁 Synonyms & antonyms

comparable similar parallel corresponding equivalent akin like comparative

comparable · suggests a similarity in quality, value, or scale that allows for a direct comparison.

similar · a more general term indicating a resemblance without specifying the nature of the likeness.

parallel · implies a likeness in structure, course, or tendency that runs alongside another without converging.

corresponding · points to a direct relationship or match between the parts or features of two different things.

Opposites: dissimilar, different, unrelated, disparate, unlike

🌱 Where it comes from

The word 'analogous' traces back to the Greek 'analogos', meaning 'proportionate' or 'according to a due ratio'. This was formed from 'ana-' (according to) and 'logos' (ratio, reason). The original idea of a shared mathematical or logical proportion evolved into our modern sense of a functional or structural similarity between different things.

🧩 How it's used

Common patterns:

analogous toanalogous situationclosely analogousdirectly analogousroughly analogousfunctionally analogous

'Analogous' is a formal word best suited for academic, legal, and scientific contexts. It is almost always followed by the preposition 'to' when making a comparison. Be careful not to confuse it with 'homologous,' a technical term in biology for structures that share a common evolutionary origin but not necessarily the same function.

Word family: analogy, analogously, analogue

💬 Quick answers

What does 'analogous' mean in simple terms?

It means two different things are comparable in a specific, often functional or structural, way. This comparison helps explain one thing by relating it to the other.

What is the difference between 'analogous' and 'similar'?

'Similar' is a general term for things that resemble each other. 'Analogous' is more specific, implying a comparison based on function, structure, or relationship, often to make a logical point.

How do you use 'analogous' in a sentence?

You typically say one thing is 'analogous to' another. For example, 'A computer's hard drive is analogous to a human's long-term memory.'

Is 'analogous' a formal word?

Yes, 'analogous' is generally used in formal, academic, or technical contexts. In casual conversation, you would more likely use 'like' or 'similar to'.

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