analogical

Analogical is an adjective relating to analogy or formed by analogy. The term derives from Latin analogicus, which in turn comes from Greek analogikos, and it is used in various disciplines to describe reasoning, forms, or processes that rely on comparing relationships between things.

In linguistics, analogical describes changes in language that move forms toward regular patterns based on patterns observed elsewhere in the language. This can drive historical sound changes or new word-formation. A widely cited example is the common learner error “goed” for the past tense of “go,” produced by extending the regular -ed pattern to irregular verbs. Similarly, English has seen shifts toward the regular form “dreamed” rather than “dreamt,” reflecting analogical pressure toward productive affixes.

In cognitive science and philosophy, analogical reasoning is the process of deriving conclusions by identifying relational similarities between domains. People and machines use analogies to solve problems, classify new information, or generate hypotheses. The classic form is “A is to B as C is to D.” Strong analogies can illuminate structure and facilitate understanding, but mappings can be misleading if the relations do not truly line up.

In rhetoric and law, analogical arguments draw conclusions by appealing to likeness between cases or situations. Across disciplines, analogical thinking supports learning and hypothesis formation, while also carrying the risk of overextended or imperfect mappings if the comparisons do not hold.