equivalent

[ih-kwiv-uh-luh nt or for 5, ee-kwuh-vey-luh nt] /ɪˈkwɪv ə lənt or for 5, ˌi kwəˈveɪ lənt/
adjective
1.
equal in value, measure, force, effect, significance, etc.:
His silence is equivalent to an admission of guilt.
2.
corresponding in position, function, etc.:
In some ways their prime minister is equivalent to our president.
3.
Geometry. having the same extent, as a triangle and a square of equal area.
4.
Mathematics. (of two sets) able to be placed in one-to-one correspondence.
5.
Chemistry. having the same capacity to combine or react chemically.
noun
6.
something that is equivalent.
Origin
1425-75; late Middle English < Late Latin aequivalent- (stem of aequivalēns), present participle of aequivalēre. See equi-, -valent
Related forms
equivalently, adverb
nonequivalent, adjective, noun
nonequivalently, adverb
quasi-equivalent, adjective
quasi-equivalently, adverb
superequivalent, adjective, noun
unequivalent, adjective
unequivalently, adverb
Can be confused
equivalent, equivocal.
Synonyms
1. See equal.
Examples from the web for equivalent
  • The findings suggest that if patients receive equivalent treatment, the outcomes for blacks and whites can be strikingly similar.
  • Taking the nearest equivalent country from 2009 data reveals some surprises.
  • The effect is the visual equivalent of a long, cool drink of water.
  • This is the modern-day equivalent of hippies freaking out the squares.
  • It's roughly the equivalent of me sabotaging your science fair project before the judges can look at it.
  • It consumed the electrical power equivalent of a large city.
  • This binary decision is equivalent to one bit of information.
  • The odds are stacked against you so heavily that a minor loss is the equivalent of a minor victory.
  • That's the equivalent of planting about 43 acres of trees.
  • Now it seems one of the world's most popular electronic musicians has discovered the modern digital equivalent.
British Dictionary definitions for equivalent

equivalent

/ɪˈkwɪvələnt/
adjective
1.
equal or interchangeable in value, quantity, significance, etc
2.
having the same or a similar effect or meaning
3.
(maths)
  1. having a particular property in common; equal
  2. (of two equations or inequalities) having the same set of solutions
  3. (of two sets) having the same cardinal number
4.
(maths, logic) (of two propositions) having an equivalence between them
noun
5.
something that is equivalent
6.
short for equivalent weight
Derived Forms
equivalently, adverb
Word Origin
C15: from Late Latin aequivalēns, from aequivalēre to be equally significant, from Latin aequi-equi- + valēre to be worth
Word Origin and History for equivalent
adj.

early 15c., from Middle French equivalent and directly from Late Latin aequivalentem (nominative aequivalens) "equivalent," present participle of aequivalere "be equivalent," from Latin aequus "equal" (see equal) + valere "be well, be worth" (see valiant). As a noun from c.1500.

equivalent in Medicine

equivalent e·quiv·a·lent (ĭ-kwĭv'ə-lənt)
adj.
Equal, as in value, force, or meaning.

equivalent in Science
equivalent
  (ĭ-kwĭv'ə-lənt)   

  1. Equal, as in value, meaning, or force.

    1. Of or relating to a relation between two elements that is reflexive, symmetric, and transitive.

    2. Having a one-to-one correspondence, as between parts. Two triangles having the same area are equivalent, as are two congruent geometric figures.