noun

analogy

uh-NA-luhd-zhee

noun

A comparison between two things to explain or clarify an idea, based on some shared feature.

"The teacher used the analogy of a leaking bucket to explain data loss."

"He drew an analogy between running a business and steering a ship."

How to Use Analogy

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishExplaining one thing by comparing it to something more familiar.

Common pairings

draw an analogy a useful analogy by analogy

analogies plural

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The teacher used the _____ of a leaking bucket to explain data loss.

From Greek analogia, meaning "proportion" or "correspondence."

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