Comparison vs. Comparative: What's the Difference?
Edited by Harlon Moss || By Janet White || Updated on October 6, 2023
Comparison is the act or instance of comparing two or more things, whereas comparative relates to or involves comparison, often expressed through the use of the words "more" or "less."
Key Differences
Comparison and comparative serve different linguistic purposes but revolve around the same fundamental concept of assessing similarities and differences between entities. Comparison is a noun, representing the process or act of comparing two or more things to discern their similarities and differences. It is an evaluation or assessment made to understand the relative values, qualities, or characteristics of the compared entities. In contrast, comparative is an adjective describing the act of comparing, highlighting the existence of similarities or differences between compared entities.
While comparison involves the detailed analysis or examination of two or more subjects, comparative primarily serves as a modifier, describing a degree or method of comparison. A comparison aims to draw parallels or contrasts between subjects, allowing for a clearer understanding or classification based on shared or differing attributes. Comparative, on the other hand, modifies nouns or pronouns, often indicating a higher or lower degree of a specific quality, illustrating relative positions or states in a comparison.
Comparison stands as the operation or the result of comparing, focusing on likenesses or disparities, aiding in the formation of judgments or decisions. It functions as a mechanism to relate, equate, or contrast elements, revealing relational values or degrees between them. The word comparative, in contrast, shapes the expression of comparisons, giving form to relational statements or assertions, signifying the relative nature of the compared elements in terms of magnitude, quantity, or degree.
In conclusion, comparison is the act, process, or result of comparing, offering a means to evaluate or assess entities concerning each other. Comparative is the adjective form relating to, based on, or constituting comparisons, providing a way to express relative qualities, quantities, or degrees between compared entities. While comparison is about the action or the outcome of comparing, comparative is about the manner, degree, or state expressed in comparisons.
Comparison Chart
Grammatical Usage
Noun: Denotes the act or instance of comparing.
Adjective: Describes something involving comparison or a degree of a quality.
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Meaning
Refers to the process of comparing two or more entities.
Relates to or involves comparisons between entities.
Focus
Centers on the act or result of comparing.
Centers on the degree or method of comparison.
Expression
Expressed as an evaluation or assessment.
Expressed as a relative statement of degree or quality.
Application
Applied to discern similarities and differences between entities.
Applied to describe or modify entities in a comparative manner.
Comparison and Comparative Definitions
Comparison
The consideration or estimation of the similarities or differences between things.
A comparison of the data sets yielded some interesting insights.
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Comparative
Pertaining to, based on, or involving comparison.
The comparative study highlighted the advantages of the new system.
Comparison
An examination of two or more items to establish similarities and dissimilarities.
His latest novel stands up well in comparison to his earlier works.
Comparative
Involving the consideration of similarities and differences between two or more entities.
In a comparative analysis, he explored the themes of the two novels.
Comparison
The state of being compared.
Her artwork is beyond comparison.
Comparative
Expressing a higher or lower degree of a quality.
She has a comparative advantage in the field of linguistics.
Comparison
The act of comparing or the process of being compared.
Comparative
Relating to the syntactic modification and inflection of adjectives and adverbs to denote relative degree.
‘Greater’ is the comparative form of ‘great’.
Comparison
A statement or estimate of similarities and differences.
Comparative
Used to denote a moderate degree of a quality.
He has comparative knowledge of the subject.
Comparison
The quality of being similar or equivalent; likeness
No comparison between the two books.
Comparative
Relating to, based on, or involving comparison.
Comparison
(Grammar) The modification or inflection of an adjective or adverb to denote the positive, comparative, and superlative degrees, as in English, along with the equative degree in certain other languages, such as Irish Gaelic.
Comparative
Of or relating to the scientific or historical comparison of different phenomena, institutions, or objects, such as languages, legal systems, or anatomical structures, in an effort to understand their origins or relationships.
Comparison
The act of comparing or the state or process of being compared.
To bring a thing into comparison with another;
There is no comparison between them
Comparative
Estimated by comparison; relative
A comparative newcomer.
Comparison
An evaluation of the similarities and differences of one or more things relative to some other or each other.
He made a careful comparison of the available products before buying anything.
Comparative
(Grammar) Of, relating to, or being the intermediate degree of comparison of adjectives, as better, sweeter, or more wonderful, or adverbs, as more softly.
Comparison
With a negation, the state of being similar or alike.
There really is no comparison between the performance of today's computers and those of a decade ago.
Comparative
The comparative degree.
Comparison
(grammar) A feature in the morphology or syntax of some languages whereby adjectives and adverbs are inflected to indicate the relative degree of the property they define exhibited by the word or phrase they modify or describe.
In English, adjectives and adverbs have three forms when making a comparison: the plain form "hot", the comparative form "hotter", and the superlative form "hottest".
Comparative
An adjective or adverb expressing the comparative degree.
Comparison
That to which, or with which, a thing is compared, as being equal or like; illustration; similitude.
Comparative
Of or relating to comparison.
Comparison
(rhetoric) A simile.
Comparative
Using comparison as a method of study, or founded on something using it.
Comparative anatomy
Comparison
(phrenology) The faculty of the reflective group which is supposed to perceive resemblances and contrasts.
Comparative
Approximated by comparison; relative.
Comparison
The act of comparing; an examination of two or more objects with the view of discovering the resemblances or differences; relative estimate.
As sharp legal practitioners, no class of human beings can bear comparison with them.
The miracles of our Lord and those of the Old Testament afford many interesting points of comparison.
Comparative
(obsolete) Comparable; bearing comparison.
Comparison
The state of being compared; a relative estimate; also, a state, quality, or relation, admitting of being compared; as, to bring a thing into comparison with another; there is no comparison between them.
Comparative
(grammar) A construction showing a relative quality, in English usually formed by adding more or appending -er. For example, the comparative of green is greener; of evil, more evil.
Comparison
That to which, or with which, a thing is compared, as being equal or like; illustration; similitude.
Whereto shall we liken the kingdom of God? Or with what comparison shall we compare it?
Comparative
(grammar) A word in the comparative form.
Comparison
The modification, by inflection or otherwise, which the adjective and adverb undergo to denote degrees of quality or quantity; as, little, less, least, are examples of comparison.
Comparative
Data used to make a comparison.
Comparison
A figure by which one person or thing is compared to another, or the two are considered with regard to some property or quality, which is common to them both; e.g., the lake sparkled like a jewel.
Comparative
(obsolete) An equal; a rival; a compeer.
Comparison
The faculty of the reflective group which is supposed to perceive resemblances and contrasts.
Comparative
(obsolete) One who makes comparisons; one who affects wit.
Comparison
To compare.
Comparative
Of or pertaining to comparison.
Comparison
Examining resemblances or differences
Comparative
Proceeding from, or by the method of, comparison; as, the comparative sciences; the comparative anatomy.
Comparison
Relation based on similarities and differences
Comparative
Estimated by comparison; relative; not positive or absolute, as compared with another thing or state.
The recurrence of comparative warmth and cold.
The bubble, by reason of its comparative levity to the fluid that incloses it, would necessarily ascend to the top.
Comparison
Qualities that are comparable;
No comparison between the two books
Beyond compare
Comparative
Expressing a degree greater or less than the positive degree of the quality denoted by an adjective or adverb. The comparative degree is formed from the positive by the use of -er, more, or less; as, brighter, more bright, or less bright.
Comparison
The act of evaluating the similarities and differences between two or more things.
The comparison of the two products revealed significant differences in quality.
Comparative
The comparative degree of adjectives and adverbs; also, the form by which the comparative degree is expressed; as, stronger, wiser, weaker, more stormy, less windy, are all comparatives.
In comparatives is expressed a relation of two; as in superlatives there is a relation of many.
Comparison
An analogy or metaphor used as a method of comparing.
His speed in the race was beyond any comparison.
Comparative
An equal; a rival; a compeer.
Gerard ever wasHis full comparative.
Comparative
One who makes comparisons; one who affects wit.
Comparative
The comparative form of an adjective;
`better' is the comparative of `good'
Comparative
Relating to or based on or involving comparison;
Comparative linguistics
Comparative
Having significance only in relation to something else;
A comparative newcomer
FAQs
Is comparative used to describe nouns?
Yes, comparative is an adjective used to describe nouns or pronouns.
Is comparison always between two entities?
No, a comparison can involve two or more entities.
Is comparative related to comparative degree in grammar?
Yes, comparative often relates to the comparative degree, expressing a higher or lower degree of a quality.
Can comparative be used in the context of studies or analyses?
Yes, comparative is often used to describe studies or analyses involving comparisons.
Can a comparison be subjective?
Yes, comparisons can be subjective, based on personal opinions or perspectives.
Does a valid comparison require a common ground?
Yes, valid comparisons typically require some common ground or shared attribute.
Does comparative always involve more than one entity?
Yes, comparative inherently involves relation between two or more entities.
Does a comparison always involve similar entities?
No, comparison can involve both similar and dissimilar entities.
Can a comparison have different bases or criteria?
Absolutely, comparisons can be based on various criteria depending on the context.
Can comparison help in making informed decisions?
Absolutely, comparison is a valuable tool for making informed and rational decisions.
Is comparison essential in everyday decision-making?
Yes, comparison is integral to everyday decision-making processes.
Is comparative degree only about higher or lower quality?
Primarily, but it can also express equality in some instances with words like ‘as…as’.
Can comparison be both qualitative and quantitative?
Yes, comparison can be both qualitative and quantitative.
Can comparative relate to comparison in various academic disciplines?
Yes, comparative relates to comparison in various disciplines like literature, sociology, and more.
Can comparative be synonymous with relative?
Yes, comparative can be synonymous with relative in the context of expressing relation between entities.
About Author
Written by
Janet WhiteJanet White has been an esteemed writer and blogger for Difference Wiki. Holding a Master's degree in Science and Medical Journalism from the prestigious Boston University, she has consistently demonstrated her expertise and passion for her field. When she's not immersed in her work, Janet relishes her time exercising, delving into a good book, and cherishing moments with friends and family.
Edited by
Harlon MossHarlon is a seasoned quality moderator and accomplished content writer for Difference Wiki. An alumnus of the prestigious University of California, he earned his degree in Computer Science. Leveraging his academic background, Harlon brings a meticulous and informed perspective to his work, ensuring content accuracy and excellence.
