analogous

adjective

anal·​o·​gous ə-ˈna-lə-gəs How to pronounce analogous (audio)
: similar or comparable to something else either in general or in some specific detail
Timbre in music is analogous to color in painting.Aaron Copland
An airplane's joystick is somewhat analogous to the reins on a horse.
: similar in a way that invites comparison : showing an analogy or a likeness that permits one to draw an analogy
a town council and a government body that serves an analogous function
analogously adverb
analogousness noun
Choose the Right Synonym for analogous

similar, analogous, parallel mean closely resembling each other.

similar implies the possibility of being mistaken for each other.

all the houses in the development are similar

analogous applies to things belonging in essentially different categories but nevertheless having many similarities.

analogous political systems

parallel suggests a marked likeness in the development of two things.

the parallel careers of two movie stars

Examples of analogous in a Sentence

… gluons, force particles analogous to the photons of electromagnetism. Andrew Watson, Science, 22 Jan. 1999
… great stretches of algae, analogous to terrestrial woodlands, in which kelp fills the role of trees. William K. Stevens, New York Times, 5 Jan. 1999
… not by means superior to, though analogous with, human reason … Charles Darwin, On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection, 1859
Recent Examples on the Web The size is measured in terms of parameters, roughly analogous to all the ways that words can be connected. Stephen Ornes, Quanta Magazine, 13 Feb. 2024 The panel observed that the Constitution’s text provides no such immunity; and while the Supreme Court has never squarely ruled on the matter, its analogous decisions granting forms of executive immunity and privilege stress that these must bend to the demands of criminal justice. Nr Editors, National Review, 9 Feb. 2024 Today’s analogous paranoid fantasy involves the COVID vaccines — and by extension, all vaccines. Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 29 Jan. 2024 Right, and again, to use an analogy, tip of the iceberg, this is just the one example of a number of analogous developments happening globally, the U.S. level. Tax Notes Staff, Forbes, 28 Nov. 2023 Not only would people running Windows 7 and Windows 8 be offered the option to upgrade to Windows 10, but product keys from those versions of Windows would activate the analogous editions of Windows 10. Andrew Cunningham, Ars Technica, 29 Sep. 2023 Two years ago, the CFTC made a similarly groundbreaking award of roughly $200 million under its analogous whistleblower program covering potential violations of the commodities laws. Gordon Schnell, Fortune, 2 Jan. 2024 Historically, in analogous situations, like military basic training, this has proved disastrous, mostly for women. Kim Tingley, New York Times, 12 Nov. 2023 One provision is analogous to the rules that apply to a Section 1033 election (to roll proceeds into rebuilding or a new home). Robert W. Wood, Forbes, 13 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'analogous.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Latin analogus "proportionate" (Medieval Latin, "conforming to analogy") + -ous; analogus borrowed from Greek análogos "proportionate, conformable," parasynthetic derivative from anà lógon "proportionately," from aná "up, throughout" + lógon, accusative of lógos "word, speech, relation, correspondence, proportion" — more at ana-, legend

First Known Use

1646, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of analogous was in 1646

Dictionary Entries Near analogous

Cite this Entry

“Analogous.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/analogous. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

analogous

adjective
anal·​o·​gous ə-ˈnal-ə-gəs How to pronounce analogous (audio)
1
: showing analogy : similar
the two stories are analogous
2
: related by analogy
analogously adverb
analogousness noun

Medical Definition

analogous

adjective
anal·​o·​gous ə-ˈnal-ə-gəs How to pronounce analogous (audio)
: having similar function but a different structure and origin
analogous organs

More from Merriam-Webster on analogous

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!