equal or interchangeable in value, quantity, significance, etc having the same or a similar effect or meaning (of two propositions) having an equivalence between them
something that is equivalent
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
e•quiv•a•lent /ɪˈkwɪvələnt/USA pronunciation
adj.
n. [countable]
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- having equivalence.
n. [countable]
- something equivalent:That car cost the equivalent of a year's salary.
e•quiv•a•lent
(i kwiv′ə lənt or, for 5, ē′kwə vā′lənt),USA pronunciation adj.
n.
e•quiv′a•lent•ly, adv.
- equal in value, measure, force, effect, significance, etc.:His silence is equivalent to an admission of guilt.
- corresponding in position, function, etc.:In some ways their prime minister is equivalent to our president.
- Mathematics[Geom.]having the same extent, as a triangle and a square of equal area.
- Mathematics(of two sets) able to be placed in one-to-one correspondence.
- Chemistryhaving the same capacity to combine or react chemically.
n.
- something that is equivalent.
- Late Latin aequivalent- (stem of aequivalēns), present participle of aequivalēre. See equi-, -valent
- late Middle English 1425–75
- 1.See corresponding entry in Unabridged See equal.
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