a person or thing equal to another in value or measure or force or effect or significance etc
"send two dollars or the equivalent in stamps"
the atomic weight of an element that has the same combining capacity as a given weight of another element; the standard is 8 for oxygen
"In stoichiometry, chemists often calculate the mass equivalent of hydrogen to determine how much reacts with a fixed eight-gram sample of oxygen."
Anything that is virtually equal to something else, or has the same value, force, etc.
"The tax refund I received was equivalent in purchasing power to what my parents got when they were my age."
In plain English: An equivalent is something that has the same value or meaning as another thing.
"The new smartphone is an equivalent to the old model but with better battery life."
Usage: Use "equivalent" as a noun to refer to a thing that matches another in value, function, or effect, such as saying a dollar bill is equivalent cash. It often replaces specific terms like "counterpart" when emphasizing functional equality rather than identity.
To make equivalent to; to equal.
"The new tax law aims to equate small business owners with large corporations by offering them the same deductions."
In plain English: To make something equal to another by changing its form or appearance.
"The new system does not completely equivalent to the old one in terms of speed."
Usage: Use "equivalent" as a verb only when something actively makes two things equal in value or effect, such as stating that a discount is equivalent to free shipping. In most other cases where you mean they are the same, use the adjective form instead.
being essentially equal to something
"it was as good as gold"
"a wish that was equivalent to a command"
"his statement was tantamount to an admission of guilt"
Similar or identical in value, meaning or effect; virtually equal.
"The new job offer is financially equivalent to her current salary, even though the title has changed."
In plain English: Equivalent means being equal in value, amount, or effect.
"The new job offer is not equivalent to the salary I had before."
Usage: Use the adjective equivalent to describe two things that have the same value, meaning, or result, such as saying an hour's work is equivalent to a day's pay. Ensure the items being compared are truly interchangeable in the specific context you are describing.
The word "equivalent" comes from the Latin aequivalēns, which literally means "having equal power." It entered English to replace an older native term, bringing with it the sense of being equal in value or force.