analogous

From Latin analogus, from Ancient Greek ᾰ̓νᾰ́λογος (análogos);^[1][2] Its English equivalent is analogue +‎ -ous. The application to similar features of organisms is nearly as old as the general sense. Recognizably modern uses of the second sense, distinguishing analogous from homologous, appear in the mid-19th century.^[3]

• (Received Pronunciation, US) IPA^(key): /əˈnæl.ə.dʒəs/, /əˈnæl.ə.ɡəs/

• Audio (US):

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analogous (comparative more analogous, superlative most analogous)

1. Having analogy, the status of an analogue; corresponding to something else; bearing some resemblance or similar proportion (often followed by "to".)
   • 2013 September 20, Martina Hyde, “Is the pope Catholic?”, in The Guardian‎:

     At the very least, it would seem to be tinkering with the formula of the biggest spiritual brand in the world, analogous to Coca-Cola changing its famous recipe in 1985.

   • 1828, Thomas De Quincey, Elements of Rhetoric (review)

     Analogous tendencies in arts and in manners.

   • 1872, John Henry Newman, Historical Sketches:

     Decay of public spirit, which may be considered analogous to natural death.

   Synonyms: correspondent, like, similar, comparable, parallel

2. (biology) Functionally similar, but arising through convergent evolution rather than being homologous.

• analog, analogue
• analogic, analogical
• analogy

• “analogous”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.