resemblance

resemblance — noun

1. when one person or thing shares noticeable features with another, especially in

1.nounB2
Definition

when one person or thing shares noticeable features with another, especially in appearance, so that they seem alike to an observer

Example

Noor bears a strong resemblance to her grandmother — they have the same eyes and smile.

collocation: bear a strong resemblance to

Élise noticed a striking resemblance between her painting and the old photograph.

collocation: striking resemblance between

Common collocations
  • bear a resemblance to
  • striking resemblance
  • strong resemblance
  • close resemblance
  • faint resemblance
  • uncanny resemblance
  • family resemblance
  • resemblance between
  • resemblance to
Synonyms
  • similarity

    broader term that can refer to any shared quality, not limited to appearance

  • likeness

    more focused on physical appearance, slightly less common in everyday speech

  • analogy

    used for abstract comparisons between different domains, more formal

Antonyms
  • difference

    general opposite, used when two things are not alike

  • dissimilarity

    more formal antonym; emphasizes lack of shared features

Grammar Patterns

resemblance + between + noun + and + noun

resemblance + to + noun

Usage Note

Resemblance is typically followed by between when stating two items being compared (resemblance between X and Y), or by to when one item is described as resembling another (resemblance to X). Common modifiers include striking, strong, close, uncanny, and faint. The verb bear is a frequent collocate.

Common Mistakes

The baby resemblances her father.
The baby resembles her father.
'Resemblance' is a noun; the verb form is 'resemble' (no -ance ending).

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Similarity is the broadest of these terms, covering any kind of shared quality between two things — it can be used for appearance, personality, function, or abstract ideas. Likeness is closer to resemblance and is most natural when talking about physical appearance, though it can also refer to character. Resemblance often suggests a fairly strong or noticeable similarity that is easy for an observer to see. Analogy is more abstract and formal, used for structural or functional comparisons between different domains (for example, comparing the heart to a pump). Parallel is useful when describing two separate situations or developments that share similar patterns, such as parallel trends in two countries' economies. If you want to say someone looks like a relative, use resemblance or likeness ('she bears a strong resemblance to her aunt'). For general shared qualities, similarity works best.

similarity ↗likenessanalogy ↗parallel

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • bear a resemblance to
  • have a resemblance to
  • show a resemblance
  • note a resemblance

Prepositions

Etymology

Old FrenchLatinEnglish

The word 'resemblance' entered English from Old French 'resemblance' in the 14th century. It was built on the verb 'resembler' (to be like or similar to), which combined the Latin prefix 're-' (expressing emphasis) with 'similis' (like, similar). The core idea of likeness has remained central to the word's meaning ever since.