What does juxtapose mean?
Juxtapose means to place two people, things, or ideas side by side, especially so that their similarities or differences become strikingly apparent. A writer may juxtapose an ornate sentence with a plain one, or a designer may place a warm color beside a cool one; in such cases, proximity itself creates emphasis and often suggests a deliberate contrast. The verb is transitive and is commonly followed by “with” or “against,” as in “juxtapose tradition with innovation.” Although “juxtapose” can imply comparison, it describes the arrangement more directly than the act of judging either item. The word is common in formal and analytical writing, especially in criticism, art history, journalism, and academic discussion, but it is also natural in everyday description when a striking contrast is intended. Its usefulness lies in capturing the rhetorical force of bringing unlike elements together: the arrangement can reveal a tension, create an association, or make one element appear sharper because of what stands beside it. Juxtaposing is therefore more than simple adjacency; it is a purposeful visual, spatial, or conceptual pairing.
verbTo place two people, things, or ideas side by side, especially so that their similarities, differences, or contrasting qualities are emphasized.
- To place two people, things, or ideas together for comparison, typically in order to emphasize a contrast or revealing relationship.
"The exhibition juxtaposes traditional craft with contemporary digital design."
"The documentary juxtaposes the director's polished public image with private recordings that tell a very different story."
"By juxtaposing the familiar melody with an unexpected rhythm, the composer creates a striking tension."
A juxtaposition can make a point that either image could not make alone.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of juxtapose
The English verb dates from the early nineteenth century and comes from Latin iuxtāpositus, a compound of iuxtā, meaning “near,” and positus, meaning “placed.” Latin positus comes from ponere, “to put” or “place,” the root also found in cognates such as compose, oppose, and expose. The modern English meaning retains the central idea of placing one thing close to another so that a comparison or contrast is created.
Related word forms
How juxtapose is actually used
Juxtapose is a transitive verb commonly followed by “with” or “against.” It is especially common in formal and analytical writing, including criticism, journalism, academic discussion, and art commentary. It often implies comparison or contrast, but it primarily describes the act of placing elements side by side.
Easily confused with juxtapose
Juxtapose is the verb describing the act of placing things side by side, whereas juxtaposition is the resulting arrangement or rhetorical device.