1
: equal in force, amount, or value
also
: equal in area or volume but not superposable
a square equivalent to a triangle
2
a
: like in signification or import
3
: corresponding or virtually identical especially in effect or function
4
obsolete
: equal in might or authority
5
: having the same chemical combining capacity
equivalent quantities of two elements
6
a
: having the same solution set
b
: capable of being placed in one-to-one correspondence
c
: related by an equivalence relation
Did you know?
Modern democracies have institutions and offices that are roughly equivalent to those found in others: the president of the United States has his British equivalent in the prime minister, for instance, and the U.S. Congress finds its equivalent in the British Parliament. The heavily armored knight on his great armored horse has been called the Middle Ages’ equivalent of the army tank. In none of these examples are the two things identical to each other; they’re simply very similar in their effect or purpose or nature, which is what equivalence usually implies.
Choose the Right Synonym for equivalent
derived from the selfsame source
very, like selfsame, may imply identity, or, like same may imply likeness in kind.
the very point I was trying to make
identical may imply selfsameness or suggest absolute agreement in all details.
equivalent implies amounting to the same thing in worth or significance.
two houses equivalent in market value
equal implies being identical in value, magnitude, or some specified quality.
equal shares in the business
Example Sentences
Those less-known companies manufacture equivalent products at cheaper prices.
I haven’t taken English 202, but I took an equivalent course at another university.
an equivalent amount of money
Recent Examples on the Web
That is equivalent to around 4 million homes, according to some estimates.
—
Stella Yifan Xie, WSJ, 3 Apr. 2023
The set earned 115,000 equivalent album units in its opening week.
—Keith Caulfield, Billboard, 2 Apr. 2023
The number of child abuse reports rose 11% last year to 30,547, which is equivalent to one every 17 minutes.
—Holly Haber, Dallas News, 31 Mar. 2023
One kilowatt is equivalent to 1.34 horsepower, so an EV motor rated at 100 kW has 134 horsepower.
—John Voelcker, Car and Driver, 30 Mar. 2023
The brand claims that the light consumes only 10 watts but that its output is equivalent to a 50-watt halogen bulb.
—Good Housekeeping, 28 Mar. 2023
Los Angeles schools closed due to worker strike demanding better pay and more staffing March 21, 202301:39 Arias said that because of the low wages of union members, a $2 increase is equivalent to about 10% of their wages on average.
—Phil Helsel, NBC News, 25 Mar. 2023
The North Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs warned earlier this week that any attempt to force the country into denuclearizing would be equivalent to a declaration of war.
—Timothy Nerozzi, Fox News, 24 Mar. 2023
The new policy instead searches for the sickest compatible waitlisted patient within a 575-mile radius, which is equivalent to more than 1 million square miles, around the donor’s hospital.
—Ben Tanen, Washington Post, 21 Mar. 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word ‘equivalent.’ Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Middle English, from Middle French or Late Latin; Middle French, from Late Latin aequivalent-, aequivalens, present participle of aequivalēre to have equal power, from Latin aequi- + valēre to be strong — more at wield
First Known Use
15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Time Traveler
The first known use of equivalent was
in the 15th century
Dictionary Entries Near equivalent
Cite this Entry
“Equivalent.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/equivalent. Accessed 13 Apr. 2023.
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
At our club, the minimum requirement for becoming an instructor for any class is that you have taken a dog through obedience competition to earn a title equivalent or higher than the level that you are teaching. ❋ Stanley Coren (2010)
Kol tribe, and Bhumij, another term equivalent to Bhuiya, of a second branch. ❋ R. V. Russell (N/A)
His interest continued at Cornell University, where he majored in physics and wrote what he calls his equivalent of a MacArthur «genius» grant: the words to what would become the popular Peter, Paul and Mary song, «Puff the Magic Dragon.» ❋ Michelle Kung (2011)
I admit readily — indeed I shout it out loud here at my blog — that getting medical information from headlines or the media equivalent is an extremely bad idea. ❋ Steve Carper (2007)
In case, some ang moh don’t know what datin is, it’s a title equivalent to ladyship. ❋ Jerine (2009)
But Nalboon, the Domak — a title equivalent to your word ‘Emperor’ and our word ‘Karfedix’ — of ❋ Lee Hawkins Garby (1922)
According to the Greek version and others, St. Mathew (xxvi, 36) designates Gethsemani by a term equivalent to that used by St. Mark. ❋ 1840-1916 (1913)
Nazōraios is to be understood as a title equivalent to “Nazar-ja” (God is guardian), in the sense of ho sōtēr = Jesus, etc. ❋ 1851-1930 (1908)
Efforts have been made to obtain in English some term equivalent to Philister or epicier; Mr. Carlyle has made several such efforts: “Respectability with its thousand gigs,” he says; well, the occupant of every one of these gigs is, Mr. Carlyle means, a Philistine. ❋ Russell, G W E (1904)
He remarks that both in Latin and Germanic countries, menstruation was commonly designated by some term equivalent to «flowers,» because, he says, it is a blossoming that indicates the possibility of fruit. ❋ Havelock Ellis (1899)
For nearly five years Cromwell was, as Lord Protector, — a title equivalent to that of regent, — practically king of England, although he refused actually to accept the royal insignia. ❋ James Harvey Robinson (1899)
The subsidy of £120,000 a year is to be continued, but the present Ameer, Habibulla, henceforth receives a title equivalent to «King» and is styled «His Majesty.» ❋ John Holland Rose (1898)
Dr. Siemens has received many honours from learned societies at home and abroad; and a title equivalent to knighthood from the German Government. ❋ John Munro (1889)
English some term equivalent to _Philister_ or _épicier_; Mr. Carlyle has made several such efforts: «Respectability with its thousand gigs,» he says; well, the occupant of every one of these gigs is, Mr. Carlyle means, a Philistine. ❋ George William Erskine Russell (1886)
* ‘Tzin was a title equivalent to lord in English. ❋ Unknown (1873)
Under the head of gentlemen are to be included the colonial officers, the clergy, and the large land-proprietors, sometimes still styled adventurers (a term equivalent to speculators,) but generally called planters. ❋ Unknown (1856)
Lubari — a term equivalent to a place of worship, the object of worship itself, or the iron horn or magic pan. ❋ John Hanning Speke (1845)
They have generally had a principal chief, who has sometimes borne a title equivalent to King. ❋ Unknown (1839)
[Redneck] [cousin]:»Do you know what equivalent [means], means same as.» ❋ Maegz69 (2008)
Dude 1: Wow that song is [tight]! What are you listenin’ to??
Dude 2: It’s just this new [CD] I [bought]…
Dude 1: OMG bro that’s totally equivalent!! ❋ B Rab Jeezy (2009)
Person 1: [Yo dude] that joke [straight up] killed, I’m [fucking dying] on the floor
Person 2: Equivalent
Person 1: The fuck does that mean? ❋ Mr. Vreys (2017)
I have equivalated [the two] [piles] of [sugar]. ❋ Corrigenda (2006)
“Four [glasses] of [wine] [equivalate] to one whole bottle“ ❋ Themakerofbrilliantwords (2018)
«[Alchemy]: the science of understanding the structure of matter, [breaking it down], then reconstructing it as something else. It can even make gold from lead. But [alchemy] is a science so it must follow the natural laws: to create, something of equal value must be lost. This is the principal of equivalent exchange. But I learned that night that some things cannot be measured on a simple scale. My brother and I knew the laws of science, of equivalent exchange. The game required sacrifice, that something had to be taken from us, but we thought there was nothing more we could loose….We were wrong.»
~[Edward Elric] (Fullmetal Alchemist) ❋ One/and/only/truth (2010)
«[In the early] days, we believed that to be the one [truth] in the world.» -Alphonse [Elric] ❋ The_Heartbreak_Kid (2005)
equivalent expressions i a [math] [word] ❋ Game Mode 0 (2016)
Oh, would you look at that?
He’s the bullshit equivalent of [Leroy Brown]!
[What I need] is the bullshit equivalent of a [flux capacitor] that will take me BACK to the place and time where that was last considered cool….
and REJECT IT on principal! ❋ Thygeekgoddess (2017)
Two seemingly [identical] [loads] do not have equal [recoil]. That is because of dram equivalent. ❋ PinkPanzer (2010)
Other forms: equivalents; equivalently
If two things are basically the same, you can say that they’re the equivalent of each other. Like, studying advanced physics is the equivalent of banging your head against the wall.
Equivalent‘s Latin roots are «equal» and «value,» which suggests that the word originally was used to describe things that had the same value. Now it can be used to describe things that have the same effect, or importance, or role — for example, «England’s Parliament is the equivalent of America’s Congress.» It can also be used as an adjective: «Eating a bowl of Sugar Pops for breakfast is equivalent to starting your day with two scoops of ice-cream.»
Definitions of equivalent
-
adjective
being essentially equal to something
“a wish that was
equivalent to a command”-
synonyms:
tantamount
-
equal
having the same quantity, value, or measure as another
-
equal
-
noun
a person or thing equal to another in value, measure, force, effect, significance, etc.
“send two dollars or the
equivalent in stamps” -
noun
the atomic weight of an element that has the same combining capacity as a given weight of another element; the standard is 8 for oxygen
DISCLAIMER: These example sentences appear in various news sources and books to reflect the usage of the word ‘equivalent’.
Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Vocabulary.com or its editors.
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English[edit]
Alternative forms[edit]
- æquivalent (archaic)
Etymology[edit]
equi- + -valent.
From Latin aequivalentem, accusative singular of aequivalēns, present active participle of aequivaleō (“I am equivalent, have equal power”).
Pronunciation[edit]
- IPA(key): /ɪˈkwɪvələnt/
Adjective[edit]
equivalent (comparative more equivalent, superlative most equivalent)
- Similar or identical in value, meaning or effect; virtually equal.
-
To burn calories, a thirty-minute jog is equivalent to a couple of hamburgers.
-
1692–1717, Robert South, Twelve Sermons Preached upon Several Occasions, volume (please specify |volume=I to VI), 6th edition, London: […] J[ames] Bettenham, for Jonah Bowyer, […], published 1727, →OCLC:
-
For now to serve and to minister, servile and ministerial, are terms equivalent.
-
-
2012 March 1, Henry Petroski, “Opening Doors”, in American Scientist[1], volume 100, number 2, page 112-3:
-
A doorknob of whatever roundish shape is effectively a continuum of levers, with the axis of the latching mechanism—known as the spindle—being the fulcrum about which the turning takes place. Applying a force tangential to the knob is essentially equivalent to applying one perpendicular to a radial line defining the lever.
-
- Synonym: on a par
-
- (mathematics) Of two sets, having a one-to-one correspondence.
- Synonym: equinumerous
- c. 2005, P N Gupta Kulbhushan, Comprehensive MCQ’s in Mathematics, page 3:
- Finite sets A and B are equivalent sets only when n(A) = n(B) i.e., the number of elements in A and B are equal.
- 1950, E. Kamke, Theory of Sets, page 16:
- All enumerable sets are equivalent to each other, but not to any finite set.
- 2000, N. L. Carothers, Real Analysis, page 18:
- Equivalent sets should, by rights, have the same «number» of elements. For this reason we sometimes say that equivalent sets have the same cardinality.
- 2006, Joseph Breuer, Introduction to the Theory of Sets, page 41:
- The equivalence theorem: If both M is equivalent to a subset N1 of N and N is equivalent to a subset M1 of M, then the sets M and N are equivalent to each other.
- (mathematics) Relating to the corresponding elements of an equivalence relation.
- (chemistry) Having the equal ability to combine.
- (cartography) Of a map, equal-area.
- (geometry) Equal in measure but not admitting of superposition; applied to magnitudes.
-
A square may be equivalent to a triangle.
-
Usage notes[edit]
- In mathematics, this adjective can be used in phrases like «A and B are equivalent», «A is equivalent to B», and, less commonly, «A is equivalent with B».
Derived terms[edit]
- banana equivalent dose
- equivalent airspeed
- equivalent potential temperature
- equivalent shaft horsepower
- equivalent variation
- equivalent weight
- equivalently
- jeu de taquin equivalent
- Morita-equivalent
- NP-equivalent
- row-equivalent
- space equivalent zone
Translations[edit]
similar or identical in value
- Armenian: համարժեք (hy) (hamaržekʿ)
- Belarusian: раўнава́ртасны (raŭnavártasny), раўнацэ́нны (raŭnacénny), эквівале́нтны (ekvivaljéntny)
- Bulgarian: равносто́ен (bg) (ravnostóen), еквивале́нтен (bg) (ekvivalénten)
- Catalan: equivalent (ca)
- Chinese:
- Mandarin: 等值 (zh) (děngzhí)
- Czech: ekvivalentní
- Dutch: gelijkwaardig (nl)
- Esperanto: ekvivalenta
- Finnish: samanlainen (fi), vastaava (fi)
- French: équivalent (fr) m
- Galician: equivalente (gl)
- Georgian: თანაბარფასიანი (tanabarpasiani), ტოლფასიანი (ṭolpasiani), თანაბარღირებული (tanabarɣirebuli), ეკვივალენტური (eḳvivalenṭuri), თანაბარმნიშვნელოვანი (tanabarmnišvnelovani), თანაბარძალიანი (tanabarʒaliani)
- German: gleichwertig (de), entsprechend (de), äquivalent (de)
- Greek: ισοδύναμος (el) (isodýnamos)
- Hindi: समान (hi) (samān), बराबर (hi) (barābar)
- Hungarian: egyenértékű (hu), ekvivalens (hu)
- Irish: comhionann
- Italian: equivalente (it)
- Japanese: 等価な (ja) (とうかな, tōka na)
- Korean: 동등하다 (ko) (dongdeunghada)
- Latvian: līdzvērtīgs
- Maori: taurite, hāngaitanga
- Occitan: equivalent (oc)
- Persian: برابر (fa) (barâbar), هامال (fa) (hâmâl)
- Polish: równoważny (pl), ekwiwalentny, odpowiedni (pl), odpowiadający
- Portuguese: equivalente (pt)
- Romanian: echivalent (ro)
- Russian: равноце́нный (ru) (ravnocénnyj), эквивале́нтный (ru) (ekvivaléntnyj)
- Spanish: equivalente (es)
- Swedish: ekvivalent (sv), likvärdig (sv)
- Tagalog: katumbas (tl), kapareho, kapantay, katimbang
- Telugu: సమానము (te) (samānamu)
- Turkish: muadil (tr), eşdeğer
- Ukrainian: рівноці́нний (rivnocínnyj), еквівале́нтний (ekvivaléntnyj)
Noun[edit]
equivalent (plural equivalents)
- Anything that is virtually equal to something else, or has the same value, force, etc.
-
1849, Thomas Babington Macaulay, chapter 7, in The History of England from the Accession of James II, volume I, London: Longman, Brown, Green, and Longmans, →OCLC:
-
He owned that, if the Test Act were repealed, the Protestants were entitled to an equivalent, and went so far as to suggest several equivalents.
-
-
- (chemistry) An equivalent weight.
Derived terms[edit]
- certainty equivalent
- full-time equivalent
- gram equivalent
- TNT equivalent
Translations[edit]
anything that is virtually equal to something else
- Armenian: համարժեք (hy) (hamaržekʿ)
- Belarusian: эквівале́нт m (ekvivaljént)
- Bulgarian: еквивале́нт (bg) m (ekvivalént)
- Catalan: equivalent (ca) m
- Chinese:
- Mandarin: 當量／当量 (zh) (dāngliáng)
- Czech: ekvivalent m
- Danish: ækvivalent c or n
- Finnish: vastine (fi)
- French: équivalent (fr) m
- Georgian: ეკვივალენტი (eḳvivalenṭi)
- German: Entsprechung (de) f, Äquivalent (de) n
- Hungarian: megfelelő (hu), ekvivalens (hu)
- Irish: (in terms of value) luach-chomaoin f
- Japanese: 等価物 (とうかぶつ, tōkabutsu)
- Korean: 등가물(等價物) (deunggamul)
- Lithuanian: atitikmuo m
- Norwegian:
- Bokmål: ekvivalent (no) m
- Nynorsk: ekvivalent m
- Persian: همسنگ, برابر (fa)
- Polish: odpowiednik (pl) m, równoznacznik m, zamiennik (pl) m
- Portuguese: equivalente (pt)
- Russian: эквивале́нт (ru) m (ekvivalént)
- Scottish Gaelic: leithid f
- Serbo-Croatian:
- Cyrillic: еквива̀лент m
- Roman: ekvivàlent (sh) m
- Spanish: equivalente (es) m
- Swedish: ekvivalent (sv) c, motsvarighet (sv) c
- Tagalog: kahalga, katumbas (tl)
- Ukrainian: відпові́дник m (vidpovídnyk), еквівале́нт m (ekvivalént)
Verb[edit]
equivalent (third-person singular simple present equivalents, present participle equivalenting, simple past and past participle equivalented)
- (transitive) To make equivalent to; to equal.
Catalan[edit]
Etymology[edit]
From Latin aequivalēns, attested from 1696.[1]
Pronunciation[edit]
- (Balearic) IPA(key): /ə.ki.vəˈlent/
- (Central) IPA(key): /ə.ki.bəˈlen/
- (Valencian) IPA(key): /e.ki.vaˈlent/
Adjective[edit]
equivalent (masculine and feminine plural equivalents)
- equivalent
[edit]
- equivalència
- equivaler
Noun[edit]
equivalent m (plural equivalents)
- equivalent
- (chemistry) equivalent
References[edit]
- ^ “equivalent”, in Gran Diccionari de la Llengua Catalana, Grup Enciclopèdia Catalana, 2023
Further reading[edit]
- “equivalent” in Diccionari de la llengua catalana, segona edició, Institut d’Estudis Catalans.
- “equivalent” in Diccionari normatiu valencià, Acadèmia Valenciana de la Llengua.
- “equivalent” in Diccionari català-valencià-balear, Antoni Maria Alcover and Francesc de Borja Moll, 1962.
Dutch[edit]
Alternative forms[edit]
- aequivalentie (dated, superseded)
Etymology[edit]
Borrowed from Middle French équivalent, from Latin aequivalēns.
Pronunciation[edit]
- IPA(key): /ˌeː.kʋi.vaːˈlɛnt/
- Hyphenation: equi‧va‧lent
- Rhymes: -ɛnt
Adjective[edit]
equivalent (not comparable)
- equivalent
Inflection[edit]
| Inflection of equivalent | ||
|---|---|---|
| uninflected | equivalent | |
| inflected | equivalente | |
| comparative | — | |
| positive | ||
| predicative/adverbial | equivalent | |
| indefinite | m./f. sing. | equivalente |
| n. sing. | equivalent | |
| plural | equivalente | |
| definite | equivalente | |
| partitive | equivalents |
Derived terms[edit]
- equivalentie
Noun[edit]
equivalent n (plural equivalenten)
- equivalent
Occitan[edit]
Etymology[edit]
From Latin aequivalēns.
Pronunciation[edit]
Adjective[edit]
equivalent m (feminine singular equivalenta, masculine plural equivalents, feminine plural equivalentas)
- equivalent
[edit]
- equivaléncia
- equivaler
- Top Definitions
- Quiz
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- Examples
- British
- Scientific
This shows grade level based on the word’s complexity.
[ ih-kwiv—uh-luhnt or, for 5, ee-kwuh—vey-luhnt ]
/ ɪˈkwɪv ə lənt or, for 5, ˌi kwəˈveɪ lənt /
This shows grade level based on the word’s complexity.
adjective
equal in value, measure, force, effect, significance, etc.: His silence is equivalent to an admission of guilt.
corresponding in position, function, etc.: In some ways their prime minister is equivalent to our president.
Geometry. having the same extent, as a triangle and a square of equal area.
Mathematics. (of two sets) able to be placed in one-to-one correspondence.
Chemistry. having the same capacity to combine or react chemically.
noun
something that is equivalent.
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Origin of equivalent
First recorded in 1425–75; late Middle English, from Late Latin aequivalent- (stem of aequivalēns ), present participle of aequivalēre. See equi-, -valent
synonym study for equivalent
OTHER WORDS FROM equivalent
e·quiv·a·lent·ly, adverbnon·e·quiv·a·lent, adjective, nounnon·e·quiv·a·lent·ly, adverbqua·si-e·quiv·a·lent, adjective
qua·si-e·quiv·a·lent·ly, adverbsu·per·e·quiv·a·lent, adjective, nounun·e·quiv·a·lent, adjectiveun·e·quiv·a·lent·ly, adverb
WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH equivalent
equivalent , equivocal
Words nearby equivalent
equivalence, equivalence class, equivalence principle, equivalence relation, equivalency, equivalent, equivalent air speed, equivalent circuit, equivalent focal length, equivalent weight, equivalve
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Words related to equivalent
commensurate, comparable, corresponding, equal, identical, proportionate, tantamount, agnate, carbon, convertible, copy, correlative, correspondent, ditto, duplicate, even, like, parallel, reciprocal, substitute
How to use equivalent in a sentence
-
What was once seen as the neurological equivalent of annoying television static may have profound implications for how scientists study the brain.
-
The hours he worked add up to the equivalent of more than six 40-hour workweeks.
-
Amtrak is giving a bonus, the equivalent of two hours of pay, to those who get vaccinated, the company said.
-
Just 24 hours after Moore started walking, he had raised the equivalent of $8,750.
-
It’s still 85% effective in preventing severe symptoms, meaning people who get the J&J shot and later contract the virus could suffer the equivalent of a bad cold, rather than maybe needing to go to the hospital, or worse.
-
It’s cheesy and ludicrous and, therefore, delightful; it’s the reading equivalent of hate-watching.
-
Desert Golfing is the gaming equivalent of putting TV on in the background.
-
Right now it looks like the diplomatic equivalent of one hand clapping.
-
It was the equivalent of becoming a black Klansman or Jewish Nazi.
-
The two scientific stories resort to the equivalent of Mathematics for Dummies andPhysics for Dummies.
-
Its use by so distinguished a person as Raleigh was equivalent to its general introduction.
-
But in such expressions as «I am rather tired,» equivalent to «I am a little tired,» the explanation is not so obvious.
-
Therefore, a very pale yellow may be its usual test for efficiency, and the equivalent will be maintained.
-
Pigeons’ dung, according to Boussingault, contains 8·3 per cent of nitrogen, equivalent to 10·0 of ammonia.
-
And a promise equivalent to this he made when he engaged to establish his called and chosen, as a holy people to himself.
British Dictionary definitions for equivalent
adjective
equal or interchangeable in value, quantity, significance, etc
having the same or a similar effect or meaning
maths
- having a particular property in common; equal
- (of two equations or inequalities) having the same set of solutions
- (of two sets) having the same cardinal number
maths logic (of two propositions) having an equivalence between them
noun
something that is equivalent
Derived forms of equivalent
equivalently, adverb
Word Origin for equivalent
C15: from Late Latin aequivalēns, from aequivalēre to be equally significant, from Latin aequi- equi- + valēre to be worth
Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Scientific definitions for equivalent
Equal, as in value, meaning, or force.
- Of or relating to a relation between two elements that is reflexive, symmetric, and transitive.
- Having a one-to-one correspondence, as between parts. Two triangles having the same area are equivalent, as are two congruent geometric figures.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.