tantamount

[tan-tuh-mount] /ˈtæn təˌmaʊnt/
adjective
1.
equivalent, as in value, force, effect, or signification:
His angry speech was tantamount to a declaration of war.
Origin
1635-45; adj. use of obsolete noun: that which amounts to as much, itself noun use of obsolete v.: to amount to as much < Anglo-French tant amunter or Italian tanto montare to amount to as much. See tanto, amount
Can be confused
paramount, tantamount, ultimately.
Synonyms
See equal.
Examples from the web for tantamount
  • As a result, captive panda studies are of tantamount importance.
  • That's because a fully functioning ecology is tantamount to tangible wealth.
  • They trust each other with their careers, which among many academics is tantamount to trusting each other with their lives.
  • Inquiring into and articulating the factors that contribute to crime isn't tantamount to excusing it.
  • But whether society should treat immersion in video games as a risk tantamount to abusing drugs and alcohol is hotly debated.
  • Relocating them is tantamount to enabling them further.
  • For a rank amateur to accomplish a performance without breaking down in the vast finale was tantamount to a musical revolution.
  • But eating a baked potato is tantamount to eating a cupful of sugar.
  • For this reason, he has spent much of his time in conditions tantamount to solitary confinement.
  • Working in this radical new medium was tantamount to drawing in space.
British Dictionary definitions for tantamount

tantamount

/ˈtæntəˌmaʊnt/
adjective
1.
(postpositive) foll by to. as good (as); equivalent in effect (to): his statement was tantamount to an admission of guilt
Word Origin
C17: basically from Anglo-French tant amunter to amount to as much, from tant so much + amunter to amount
Word Origin and History for tantamount
adj.

1640s, from verbal phrase tant amount "be equivalent" (1620s), from Anglo-French tant amunter "amount to as much" (late 13c.), from Old French tant "as much" (from Latin tantus, from tam "so") + amonter "amount to, go up" (see amount).