analogy
C1Formal to neutral; widely used in academic, technical, and educational contexts.
Definition
Meaning
A comparison between two things, typically on the basis of their structure or function, to explain or clarify something.
In logic and reasoning, a process of arguing from similarity in known respects to similarity in other respects; in linguistics, the modelling of language on existing patterns.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Implicitly suggests a partial, not total, similarity; the point of comparison is often structural or relational rather than superficial.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning. The spelling is identical. Usage frequency and contexts are virtually the same.
Connotations
Identical across varieties.
Frequency
Equally common in both academic and general discourse in both UK and US English.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
draw/make an analogy between X and Yargue by analogy with Xexplain X by analogy to Ysee/understand X in analogy to YVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “That's a false analogy.”
- “The analogy holds.”
- “The analogy breaks down.”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used to explain a new strategy or market situation by comparing it to a familiar one. 'We can understand this merger by analogy to a chess game.'
Academic
Fundamental in philosophy, law, science, and literature for logical reasoning and argumentation. 'The author uses an analogy between the state and a ship to discuss governance.'
Everyday
Used to make complex ideas relatable. 'He explained computer memory using an analogy of a filing cabinet.'
Technical
In computing, 'analogical reasoning'; in biology, 'analogous structures' (like wings of birds and insects).
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- 'Analogy' is not commonly used as a verb. The verb is 'analogise' (UK) / 'analogize' (US).
American English
- Scholars often analogize the internet to a vast, modern library.
adverb
British English
- She argued analogically, drawing parallels with 19th-century trade policies.
American English
- The process can be understood analogically, much like a factory assembly line.
adjective
British English
- The analogical reasoning in her thesis was particularly strong.
American English
- He presented an analogical argument comparing cell biology to city infrastructure.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The teacher used an analogy: learning grammar is like learning the rules of a game.
- He made an analogy between the human heart and a pump to explain how it works.
- By analogy with the previous economic crisis, we can predict a similar pattern of recovery.
- The legal principle was established by analogy to an earlier, landmark case, extending its reasoning to a novel situation.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'ANA LOGY' – ANAlysis through a LOGical storY. You tell a story (a 'log') to logically analyse and compare two things.
Conceptual Metaphor
UNDERSTANDING IS SEEING SIMILARITIES (e.g., 'I see the analogy'), ARGUMENT IS A STRUCTURE BUILT FROM COMPARISONS.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct translation with 'аналогия' in all contexts; in Russian it can sound more formal/scientific. The English word is used more broadly.
- The Russian 'аналогично' is an adverb meaning 'similarly', not a noun. Don't confuse the parts of speech.
- The collocation 'по аналогии с' maps directly to 'by analogy with', which is correct.
Common Mistakes
- Pronouncing it /ˌænəˈlɒdʒi/ (stress on first syllable). Correct: /əˈnælədʒi/.
- Using 'metaphor' or 'simile' interchangeably. An analogy explains a relationship, while a metaphor states one thing *is* another.
- Creating a 'false analogy' by comparing things that are not sufficiently similar in relevant aspects.
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following best describes the primary function of an analogy?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
An analogy is a comparison that explains a relationship, often at length, to clarify an idea (e.g., 'The brain is like a computer'). A metaphor is a more direct, figurative statement that one thing *is* another (e.g., 'The brain is a computer'), implying a stronger, more symbolic identity.
It is neutral-to-formal. It's perfectly at home in everyday conversation when explaining ideas, but it is also a core technical term in academic fields like logic, law, and linguistics.
Not directly. The noun is 'analogy'. The corresponding verb is 'to analogize' (US) / 'to analogise' (UK), though it is less common. People more often say 'draw an analogy' or 'make an analogy'.
A false analogy is a logical fallacy where a comparison is made between two things that are not sufficiently alike in relevant respects, leading to an incorrect or misleading conclusion.
Collections
Part of a collection
Critical Thinking
C1 · 49 words · Vocabulary for structured logical reasoning and analysis.
Rhetoric and Argumentation
C2 · 49 words · Advanced tools of persuasion and argumentation.
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