What does juxtaposition mean?
Juxtaposition is the deliberate placing of two people, objects, images, ideas, or experiences side by side so that their relationship becomes meaningful. Its effect may depend on striking differences, unexpected similarities, or the tension created when familiar and unfamiliar things appear together. In literary and artistic analysis, juxtaposition is often a structural technique: an author may place contrasting scenes next to one another, while a designer may combine styles or materials to create visual tension. The word can also refer to the arrangement itself rather than the act of creating it. Although the concept is ordinary, “juxtaposition” is a precise and useful term for describing how context changes meaning, creates contrast, and directs attention.
nounThe act of placing two or more things side by side, especially so that their similarities, differences, or contrasting qualities can be perceived. It may also refer to the result of this arrangement or the technique of presenting ideas, images, or objects for comparison.
- The act or practice of placing two or more things close together, especially for comparison or contrast.
- A pairing or arrangement of ideas, images, objects, or experiences that creates a meaningful comparison or striking contrast.
- The rhetorical or artistic effect produced by such a pairing.
"The exhibition uses the juxtaposition of traditional portraits with contemporary photographs to highlight changes in representation."
"The juxtaposition of the small village with the vast city raises questions about scale and modern life."
"Editors often use juxtaposition to show how two quotations contradict one another."
"The juxtaposition of warm light and deep shadow gives the painting its dramatic intensity."
Juxtaposition is the art of letting a second image do the talking: side by side, two ordinary objects can become a powerful argument.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does juxtaposition come from?
The word comes from Latin iuxtāpositiō, a noun meaning “placing beside,” formed from iuxtā (“beside, near”) and positus, the past participle of pōnere (“to put, place”). English borrowed the noun in the early 19th century, while the related verb “juxtapose” developed alongside it. Its cognates in other European languages reflect the same Latin roots.
Related word forms
How juxtaposition is actually used
Formal and chiefly literary, though widely used in discussions of art, architecture, rhetoric, and design. It usually emphasizes a deliberate comparison or contrast rather than mere physical closeness.
Easily confused with juxtaposition
“Juxtaposition” names the act or result of placing things side by side, whereas “juxtapose” is the verb describing that action.