similarity

/ˈsɪməˌlɛrədi/

/sɪmɪˈlærɪti/

Other forms: similarities

You might get annoyed if people keep saying there is a similarity between you and your older sister, particularly if you're tired of being compared to her. A similarity is a sameness or alikeness.

When you are comparing two things — physical objects, ideas, or experiences — you often look at their similarities and their differences. Difference is the opposite of similarity. Both squares and rectangles have four sides, that is a similarity between them. Just because two things share similarities doesn't mean they are the same.

Definitions of similarity

1. noun

   the quality of being similar
   antonyms:

   dissimilarity

   the quality of being dissimilar

   types:

   approximation

   the quality of coming near to identity (especially close in quantity)

   homogeny

   (biology) similarity because of common evolution

   homology

   similarity or correspondence in position, structure, function, or origin, such as the four limbs of humans, birds, and dogs

   homomorphism, homomorphy

   similarity of form

   isomorphism, isomorphy

   (biology) similarity or identity of form or shape or structure

   alikeness, likeness, similitude

   similarity in appearance or character or nature between persons or things

   correspondence, parallelism

   similarity by virtue of corresponding

   uniformity, uniformness

   the quality of lacking diversity or variation (even to the point of boredom)

   approach

   a close approximation

   sort

   an approximate definition or example

   analog, analogue, parallel

   something having the property of being analogous to something else

   homogeneity, homogeneousness

   the quality or state of being similar or of being uniform in composition or structure throughout

   consistence, consistency

   a harmonious uniformity or agreement among things or parts

   echo

   a close parallel of a feeling, idea, style, etc.

   comparability, compare, comparison, equivalence

   qualities that are comparable

   mirror image, reflection, reflexion

   a likeness in which left and right are reversed

   naturalness

   the likeness of a representation to the thing represented

   resemblance

   similarity in appearance or external or superficial details

   spitting image

   a perfect likeness or counterpart

   type of:

   sameness

   the quality of being alike
2. noun

   a Gestalt principle of organization holding that (other things being equal) parts of a stimulus field that are similar to each other tend to be perceived as belonging together as a unit
   synonyms: law of similarity

   type of:

   Gestalt law of organization, Gestalt principle of organization

   a principle of Gestalt psychology that identifies factors leading to particular forms of perceptual organization