Things that are comparable or similar to something else in function, structure, or characteristics. Items that serve as equivalent examples or parallels in different contexts or systems.
From Greek 'analogos' meaning proportionate or corresponding, derived from 'ana-' (according to) and 'logos' (ratio or proportion). The term entered scientific vocabulary in the 17th century, initially used in mathematics and logic. It expanded to describe similar structures across different domains, especially in biology and chemistry.
Analogs are the foundation of all scientific understanding—we comprehend new phenomena by comparing them to familiar ones. The concept is so central to human cognition that we automatically search for analogs when encountering anything novel, from explaining electricity as water flow to describing atomic structure like a solar system.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.