analogy
gb/ənˈæləd͡ʒi/ us/ənˈæləd͡ʒi/
B2
English
~ 8600
analógia, hasonlat, párhuzam, analógiás kiegyenlítődés
NOUN
B2
1
Usage pattern:
an analogy between [A] and [B]
The teacher used the analogy of a tree to explain the structure of the company.
A tanár egy fa hasonlatával magyarázta el a vállalat szervezeti felépítését.
In his speech, he drew an analogy between the internet and a global library.
Beszédében párhuzamot vont az internet és egy globális könyvtár között.
That analogy helps me understand how the immune system works.
She made an analogy between the brain and a computer to simplify the idea.
The article uses a driving analogy to clarify the risks of the new policy.
Learner examples
My coach gave an analogy to explain the game plan.
Az edzőm egy hasonlattal magyarázta el a játéktervet.
The book uses an easy analogy to show how the heart works.
A könyv egy könnyen érthető hasonlattal mutatja be, hogyan működik a szív.
He drew an analogy between learning English and learning to play the piano.
This analogy makes the difficult idea clear for me.
Our professor used a car analogy to explain the economy.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes say *"make a comparison analogy"*, which is redundant; use either *"make a comparison"* or *"make an analogy"*. Another common mistake is using the wrong preposition: it is natural to say *"an analogy between A and B"* or *"an analogy to/with something"*, not *"an analogy of" in most cases.
Meaning
comparison used for explanation
Collocations
draw an analogy
|make an analogy
|use an analogy
|an analogy between
|a helpful analogy
|a simple analogy
Synonyms
comparison (More general; does not always suggest explaining or clarifying something.)
|
metaphor (Specifically a figurative expression; an analogy can be broader and not always literary or poetic.)
Antonyms
contrast (Focuses on showing differences instead of similarities to explain something.)
Themes
communication
|education
|thinking
|core_vocabulary
Definition
A way of explaining something by comparing it to something else that is similar in an important way.
A comparison between two things, usually different in many ways, that is used to explain, clarify, or argue about one of them by showing a similarity.
NOUN
C1
FORMAL
2
analógia
B2
Usage pattern:
a close analogy between [A] and [B]
There is a close analogy between the human brain and a complex computer network.
Szoros analógia van az emberi agy és egy összetett számítógépes hálózat között.
Many scientists see a striking analogy between climate systems and financial markets.
Sok tudós feltűnő analógiát lát az éghajlati rendszerek és a pénzügyi piacok között.
The legal system of that country has no real analogy in Europe.
Historians often look for an analogy in the past to understand current events.
The author argues that the analogy between the two conflicts is misleading.
Learner examples
There is a close analogy between the two business models.
Szoros analógia van a két üzleti modell között.
Some people see an analogy between the human body and a machine.
Vannak, akik analógiát látnak az emberi test és egy gép között.
The teacher said there is no real analogy between these two problems.
Scientists found an interesting analogy between bird flight and airplane design.
We can find an analogy between language change and cultural change.
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse this sense with simple *"similarity"* and overuse *"analogy"* in casual speech, where *"similarity"* or *"likeness"* sounds more natural. Also, avoid saying *"strong analogy of"*; instead say *"a close/strong analogy between A and B"* or *"an analogy to/with something"* in formal writing.
Meaning
similarity or parallel between things
Collocations
close analogy
|striking analogy
|direct analogy
|historical analogy
|useful analogy
|no real analogy
Synonyms
parallel (Often used in formal contexts to emphasize a strong, structured similarity.)
|
resemblance (More general and less formal; does not strongly suggest a structured or functional similarity.)
Antonyms
difference (Emphasizes that things are not similar or parallel in structure or function.)
|
dissimilarity (A more formal word stressing the lack of similarity or analogy.)
Themes
science
|philosophy
|thinking
|education
|core_vocabulary
Definition
A way in which two or more things are similar, especially in their structure or how they work.
A similarity or correspondence in certain features or structure between two or more things, especially when used in serious or academic discussion.
NOUN
C2
TECHNICAL
3
Usage pattern:
[form] is created by analogy with [existing form]
The form "doves" instead of "dove" was influenced by analogy with regular plurals like "wolves".
A „dove” helyett megjelenő „doves” alakot az olyan szabályos többes számok analógiája befolyásolta, mint a „wolves”.
In many languages, new verb forms are created by analogy with the most common conjugation pattern.
Sok nyelvben új igealakok jönnek létre a leggyakoribb ragozási minta analógiájára.
The children's use of "goed" for "went" is a clear case of analogy in language acquisition.
Linguists argue that analogy plays a major role in morphological change over time.
The spelling change was introduced by analogy with related words in the same family.
Learner examples
The child said "foots" by analogy with "books".
A gyerek a „books” analógiájára azt mondta, hogy „foots”.
New verbs can be formed by analogy with old verbs.
Új igék régi igék analógiájára is létrejöhetnek.
In linguistics, analogy helps explain many changes in word forms.
The plural "computers" is formed by analogy with many other English nouns.
Sometimes students create wrong forms by analogy with regular patterns.
Common mistake:
Learners may not realize that this is a special technical meaning in linguistics and may try to interpret it as a simple comparison. In this sense, *"analogy"* refers to a process or type of change in language, not to an example used for explanation.
Meaning
pattern-based change in language
Collocations
formed by analogy
|created by analogy
|analogy in language change
|analogy with existing forms
|morphological analogy
|analogy-based formation
Synonyms
pattern extension (Descriptive phrase used in linguistics; less standard and more explanatory than the technical term "analogy".)
Antonyms
irregular change (Refers to changes that do not follow an existing pattern, the opposite of analogy-based regularization.)
Themes
language
|academia
|linguistics
|education
|communication
|science
Definition
In the study of language, a change in a word or structure that happens because it copies the pattern of another word or structure.
In linguistics, the process or result of making a word form or construction more regular by modeling it on the pattern of an existing similar form in the language.
Grammar
Dictionary form
analogy
IPA
GB/ənˈæləd͡ʒi/
US/ənˈæləd͡ʒi/
Syllables & stress
ana - logy (2 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (logy)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: analogy
- Plural: analogies, analogy
Word family
Expressions
by analogy
1/bˈaɪ ənˈæləd͡ʒi/
fixed phrase
formal
reason or decide based on similarity
Using a known example as a model to understand or decide something about another, similar case.
Examples
- By analogy with other viruses, researchers expected similar side effects.
- We can, by analogy, assume that the same rule applies in this situation.
- The judge reasoned by analogy from earlier cases with similar facts.
draw an analogy between
1/dɹˈɔ ən ənˈæləd͡ʒi bɪtwˈin/
fixed phrase
compare two things to explain
To talk about how two things are similar, usually to help explain something or make an argument.
Examples
- The writer draws an analogy between modern smartphones and Swiss army knives.
- In his lecture, he drew an analogy between the brain and a city to make the concept easier to understand.
- Environmentalists often draw an analogy between plastic pollution and an oil spill.
make an analogy
1/mˈeɪk ən ənˈæləd͡ʒi/
fixed phrase
create a comparison to clarify
To create or give a comparison between two things so that an idea is easier to understand.
Examples
- The scientist made an analogy to everyday cooking to explain the chemical reaction.
- She made an analogy between team sports and group projects at work.
- It can be helpful to make an analogy when you explain a complex topic.
use an analogy
1/jˈuz ən ənˈæləd͡ʒi/
fixed phrase
employ a comparison to explain
To help explain something by giving a comparison with something else that is similar.
Examples
- Teachers often use an analogy to introduce difficult ideas.
- You can use an analogy from sports to explain the company strategy.
- The presenter used an analogy to make the statistics more understandable.