equivalent

UK: /ɪˈkwɪvələnt/

US: /ɪˈkwɪvələnt/

US: (i kwiv′ə lənt or, for 5, ē′kwə vā′lənt)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

e•quiv•a•lent /ɪˈkwɪvələnt/   adj. 

1. having equivalence.

n. [countable]

2. something equivalent:
   That car cost the equivalent of a year's salary.

e•quiv•a•lent•ly, adv. See -equa-, -val-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

e•quiv•a•lent  (i kwiv′ə lənt or, for 5, ē′kwə vā′lənt), adj. 

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. Mathematics [Geom.] 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.

n. 

6. something that is equivalent.

• Late Latin aequivalent- (stem of aequivalēns), present participle of aequivalēre. See equi-, -valent
• late Middle English 1425–75

e•quiv′a•lent•ly, adv. 
Synonyms

• 1. See equal. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

equivalent / ɪˈkwɪvələnt/ adjective

1. equal or interchangeable in value, quantity, significance, etc
2. having the same or a similar effect or meaning
3. (of two propositions) having an equivalence between them

noun

1. something that is equivalent

Etymology: 15th Century: from Late Latin aequivalēns, from aequivalēre to be equally significant, from Latin aequi- equi- + valēre to be worth

eˈquivalently adverb