Equivalent vs. Synonym — What's the Difference?
Difference Between Equivalent and Synonym
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Compare with Definitions
Equivalent
Equal in value, amount, function, meaning, etc.
One unit is equivalent to one glass of wine
Synonym
A synonym is a word, morpheme, or phrase that means exactly or nearly the same as another word, morpheme, or phrase in the same language. For example, the words begin, start, commence, and initiate are all synonyms of one another; they are synonymous.
Equivalent
A person or thing that is equal to or corresponds with another in value, amount, function, meaning, etc.
The French equivalent of the Bank of England
Synonym
A word or phrase that means exactly or nearly the same as another word or phrase in the same language, for example shut is a synonym of close
‘the East’ was a synonym for the Soviet empire
‘shut’ is a synonym of ‘close’
Equivalent
The mass of a particular substance that can combine with or displace one gram of hydrogen or eight grams of oxygen, used in expressing combining powers, especially of elements.
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Synonym
A word having the same or nearly the same meaning as another word or other words in a language.
Equivalent
Equal, as in value, force, or meaning.
Synonym
A word or expression that serves as a figurative or symbolic substitute for another
"Romeo has become a synonym for any youthful lover" (Harry Levin).
Equivalent
Having similar or identical effects.
Synonym
(Biology) One of two or more scientific names that have been applied to the same species or other taxonomic group.
Equivalent
Being essentially equal, all things considered
A wish that was equivalent to a command.
Synonym
A word whose meaning is the same as that of another word.
Equivalent
Capable of being put into a one-to-one relationship. Used of two sets.
Synonym
A word or phrase with a meaning that is the same as, or very similar to, another word or phrase.
“Happy” is a synonym of “glad”.
Equivalent
Having virtually identical or corresponding parts.
Synonym
(zoology) Any of the formal names for a taxon, including the valid name (i.e. the senior synonym).
Equivalent
Of or relating to corresponding elements under an equivalence relation.
Synonym
Any name for a taxon, usually a validly published, formally accepted one, but often also an unpublished name.
Equivalent
(Chemistry) Having the same ability to combine.
Synonym
(databases) An alternative (often shorter) name defined for an object in a database.
Equivalent
(Logic) Having equivalence
Equivalent propositions.
Synonym
One of two or more words (commonly words of the same language) which are equivalents of each other; one of two or more words which have very nearly the same signification, and therefore may often be used interchangeably. See under Synonymous.
All languages tend to clear themselves of synonyms as intellectual culture advances, the superfluous words being taken up and appropriated by new shades and combinations of thought evolved in the progress of society.
His name has thus become, throughout all civilized countries, a synonym for probity and philanthropy.
In popular literary acceptation, and as employed in special dictionaries of such words, synonyms are words sufficiently alike in general signification to be liable to be confounded, but yet so different in special definition as to require to be distinguished.
Equivalent
Something that is essentially equal to another
"The hand is not the biological equivalent of a hammer or a screwdriver.
The hand is a multipurpose tool like a Swiss Army knife" (Jonathan Gottschall).
Synonym
An incorrect or incorrectly applied scientific name, as a new name applied to a species or genus already properly named, or a specific name preoccupied by that of another species of the same genus; - so used in the system of nomenclature (which see) in which the correct scientific names of certain natural groups (usually genera, species, and subspecies) are regarded as determined by priority.
Equivalent
(Chemistry) Equivalent weight.
Synonym
One of two or more words corresponding in meaning but of different languages; a heteronym.
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.
Synonym
Two words that can be interchanged in a context are said to be synonymous relative to that context
Equivalent
(mathematics) Of two sets, having a one-to-one correspondence.
Equivalent
(mathematics) Relating to the corresponding elements of an equivalence relation.
Equivalent
(chemistry) Having the equal ability to combine.
Equivalent
(cartography) Of a map, equal-area.
Equivalent
(geometry) Equal in measure but not admitting of superposition; applied to magnitudes.
A square may be equivalent to a triangle.
Equivalent
Anything that is virtually equal to something else, or has the same value, force, etc.
Equivalent
(chemistry) An equivalent weight.
Equivalent
(transitive) To make equivalent to; to equal.
Equivalent
Equal in worth or value, force, power, effect, import, and the like; alike in significance and value; of the same import or meaning.
For now to serve and to minister, servile and ministerial, are terms equivalent.
Equivalent
Equal in measure but not admitting of superposition; - applied to magnitudes; as, a square may be equivalent to a triangle.
Equivalent
Contemporaneous in origin; as, the equivalent strata of different countries.
Equivalent
Something equivalent; that which is equal in value, worth, weight, or force; as, to offer an equivalent for damage done.
He owned that, if the Test Act were repealed, the Protestants were entitled to some equivalent. . . . During some weeks the word equivalent, then lately imported from France, was in the mouths of all the coffeehouse orators.
Equivalent
That comparative quantity by weight of an element which possesses the same chemical value as other elements, as determined by actual experiment and reference to the same standard. Specifically: (a) The comparative proportions by which one element replaces another in any particular compound; thus, as zinc replaces hydrogen in hydrochloric acid, their equivalents are 32.5 and 1. (b) The combining proportion by weight of a substance, or the number expressing this proportion, in any particular compound; as, the equivalents of hydrogen and oxygen in water are respectively 1 and 8, and in hydric dioxide 1 and 16.
Equivalent
A combining unit, whether an atom, a radical, or a molecule; as, in acid salt two or more equivalents of acid unite with one or more equivalents of base.
Equivalent
To make the equivalent to; to equal; equivalence.
Equivalent
A person or thing equal to another in value or measure or force or effect or significance etc;
Send two dollars or the equivalent in stamps
Equivalent
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
Equivalent
Equal in amount or value;
Like amounts
Equivalent amounts
The same amount
Gave one six blows and the other a like number
An equal number
The same number
Equivalent
Being essentially equal to something;
It was as good as gold
A wish that was equivalent to a command
His statement was tantamount to an admission of guilt
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