roughly equivalent

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "roughly equivalent" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing two things that are similar in value, meaning, or function but not exactly the same. Example: "The two products are roughly equivalent in terms of performance, making either a suitable choice for consumers."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

Academia

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

All variants are roughly equivalent.

Biologically Inspired Cognitive Architectures

[and] possessed roughly equivalent bargaining power". Post, at 6.

Harvard University

The trimesters are roughly equivalent to specific developmental stages.

Harvard University

A euro is roughly equivalent to a dollar.

The New York Times - Food

Being roughly equivalent, though, does not mean being identical.

The New York Times

The three Californias would have roughly equivalent populations and wealth.

The New York Times

The term is roughly equivalent to the term sandstone (q.v.).

Britannica

Oblasts and krays are roughly equivalent to provinces.

The Washington Post

The rent and maintenance expenses are roughly equivalent, he said.

The New York Times

My wife's income, roughly equivalent to my own, remained unchanged.

The New York Times

The rise is roughly equivalent to the UK's average salary.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "roughly equivalent", ensure the context clearly indicates what aspects are being compared (e.g., size, value, function) to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "roughly equivalent" when the difference between the items being compared is significant. Use a phrase that indicates a weaker relationship, such as "somewhat related" or "slightly similar".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "roughly equivalent" functions as a modifier, specifically an adjective phrase. It qualifies a noun by indicating an approximate or near equivalence. As Ludwig AI highlights, this phrase is commonly used in various contexts to express similarity without implying exact equality.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

41%

Academia

19%

Science

19%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

2%

Formal & Business

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "roughly equivalent" is a versatile adjective phrase used to indicate an approximate similarity between two or more things. As shown by Ludwig, this phrase is grammatically correct and frequently used across diverse contexts, including news, academia, and science. While it conveys a sense of nearness, it also acknowledges that the items are not exactly the same. When using this phrase, it's important to specify the aspect being compared to avoid ambiguity. Alternatives such as "approximately equal" or "substantially similar" can be used to fine-tune the level of similarity being conveyed.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

roughly comparable

Highlights similarity but with an element of approximation.

approximately equal

Implies a numerical or measurable similarity, though not exact.

nearly identical

Suggests a very close similarity, almost to the point of being the same.

substantially similar

Indicates that the items being compared share significant characteristics.

comparable to

Highlights the similarity for the purpose of comparison.

almost the same

Indicates a slight difference but overall high similarity.

more or less the same

An informal way of expressing approximate equivalence.

virtually alike

Emphasizes the similarity while acknowledging minor differences.

in the same ballpark

An idiomatic expression suggesting approximate numerical or value equivalence.

of the same order of magnitude

Used primarily in scientific contexts to indicate similar scale or size.

FAQs

What does "roughly equivalent" mean?

The term "roughly equivalent" means approximately equal or similar in value, quantity, or meaning, but not exactly the same. It indicates an approximation rather than a precise equality.

How can I use "roughly equivalent" in a sentence?

You can use "roughly equivalent" to compare two things that are similar but not identical. For instance, "The two products are "roughly equivalent" in performance."

What are some alternatives to using "roughly equivalent"?

Alternatives include "approximately equal", "nearly identical", or "substantially similar" depending on the degree of similarity you want to convey.

Is there a difference between "roughly equivalent" and "exactly equivalent"?

"Roughly equivalent" implies an approximation, while "exactly equivalent" indicates a precise equality. If items are "exactly equivalent", they are the same in all relevant aspects; if they are "roughly equivalent", there may be minor differences.