Definition of ANALOGOUS (original) (raw)
: 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
Synonyms
Choose the Right Synonym for analogous
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Once those large animal datasets are available, new analytical algorithms become a possibility, such as using deep neural networks to find hidden structure in sequences of animal vocalizations, which may be analogous to the meaningful structure in human language. —Arik Kershenbaum, WIRED, 22 Dec. 2024 Karlsson’s experience last season was analogous to that of Rob Edwards at Luton Town — although his side were relegated, he was commended for performing so impressively with a club unfamiliar to the top division. —Michael Cox, The Athletic, 21 Dec. 2024 The proximity of francs de pied and grafted vines is analogous to vaccinated and unvaccinated people coming in contact with one another. —Mike Desimone and Jeff Jenssen, Robb Report, 15 Dec. 2024 This type of battle would be analogous to what Biden did in issuing an executive order that lifted a portion of debt for student loan borrowers. —Louis Jacobson, Austin American-Statesman, 12 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for analogous 
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 31 Dec. 2024.
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Last Updated: 27 Dec 2024 - Updated example sentences
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