What does "juxtaposition" mean?
The nearness of objects with little or no delimiter.
Juxtaposition
/ˌd͡ʒʌk.stə.pəˈzɪʃ.ən/ noun, verb
noun, verb ·Moderate ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: The nearness of objects with little or no delimiter.
- Grammar: juxtaposition is listed as noun, verb.
- Nearest alternatives: abutment, abuttal, accession, addition.
- Useful contrasts: concord, distance, harmony.
- Usage evidence: The author's juxtaposition of the two characters highlights their flaws.
How to use "juxtaposition"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "juxtaposition" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "juxtaposition" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "juxtaposition" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "juxtaposition" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "juxtaposition" is acting as noun, verb in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "abutment" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "juxtaposition", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 The nearness of objects with little or no delimiter. countable, uncountable
"It is the object of the mechanical atomistic philosophy to confound synthesis with synartesis, or rather with mere juxtaposition of corpuscles separated by invisible interspaces."
- 2 the act of positioning close together (or side by side) wordnet
- 3 The nearness of objects with little or no delimiter.; An absence of linking elements in a group of words that are listed together. countable, uncountable
"Example: mother father instead of mother and father"
- 4 a side-by-side position wordnet
- 5 The nearness of objects with little or no delimiter.; An absence of operators in an expression. countable, uncountable
"Using juxtaposition for multiplication saves space when writing longer expressions. a#92;timesb collapses to ab."
Show 3 more definitions
- 6 The extra emphasis given to a comparison when the contrasted objects are close together. countable, uncountable
"There was a poignant juxtaposition between the boys laughing in the street and the girl crying on the balcony above."
- 7 The extra emphasis given to a comparison when the contrasted objects are close together.; Two or more contrasting sounds, colours, styles etc. placed together for stylistic effect. countable, uncountable
"The juxtaposition of the bright yellows on the dark background made the painting appear three dimensional."
- 8 The extra emphasis given to a comparison when the contrasted objects are close together.; The close placement of two ideas to imply a link that may not exist. countable, rhetoric, uncountable
"Example: In 1965 the government was elected; in 1965 the economy took a dive."
Verb
- 1 To place in juxtaposition.
Example
"The author's juxtaposition of the two characters highlights their flaws."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "juxtaposition"?
Common synonyms include: abutment, abuttal, accession, addition, adjacency, adjacency.
How do you use "juxtaposition" in a sentence?
The author's juxtaposition of the two characters highlights their flaws.
How do you pronounce "juxtaposition"?
Pronounced /ˌd͡ʒʌk.stə.pəˈzɪʃ.ən/.
Etymology
Borrowed from French juxtaposition, from Latin iuxtā (“near”) (from Latin iungō (“to join”)) + French position (“position”) (from Latin pōnō (“to place”)).