Meaning & use
congruent
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Meanings
adjectivenot comparabletechnical
In geometry, having exactly the same size and shape, so one figure fits the other perfectly.
Grammar: Two figures are congruent if you can slide, turn or flip one to match the other exactly.
Patterns
- congruent figures
- congruent to something
- congruent with something
The two triangles are congruent because their sides and angles are equal.
After rotating the square, it is still congruent to the original.
In the diagram, the congruent shapes are marked with the same symbol.
adjectivenot comparable
In agreement or harmony with something; consistent.
Grammar: Often followed by with: His actions are congruent with his beliefs.
Patterns
- congruent with something
- congruent to something
Her account of the event is congruent with what the witnesses said.
The new policy is congruent with the company's values.
His behavior is not congruent with his stated principles.
Common combinations
- congruent triangles
- The teacher asked us to prove that the two triangles were congruent.
- congruent with
- The results are congruent with previous studies.
- congruent to
- This angle is congruent to that one.
- perfectly congruent
- The two pieces are perfectly congruent.
Synonyms and how they differ
- identical
- Use identical for things that are exactly the same in every way; congruent is more specific to geometry or formal agreement.
- consistent
- Consistent means not contradictory; congruent often implies a positive match or harmony.
- corresponding
- Corresponding means matching in position or function; congruent means matching in size and shape or in agreement.
Opposites
Word family
- congruence noun
- The state of being congruent; agreement or exact match.
- congruently adverb
- In a congruent manner; consistently.
- incongruent adjective
- Not congruent; not matching or in agreement.
Commonly confused: congruent or similar?
congruent vs similar
Similar means alike in shape but not necessarily the same size; congruent means exactly the same size and shape.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'congruent' correctly?
Choose one answer.
Congruent means in agreement or harmony, so 'congruent with her words' fits. Option 0 is wrong because congruent requires the same size, not just shape. Option 2 uses congruent as a noun, which is incorrect. Option 3 uses congruent to mean a feeling, which is not a standard meaning.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “congruent”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.