équivalant

Équivalant is a French term used as an adjective meaning that which has the same value, function, or meaning as something else. In everyday language, it is often replaced by équivalent, which is more common as a noun, but équivalant remains in use, particularly in technical expressions. The concept centers on correspondence or sameness in value rather than identity.

Etymology and usage: the word derives from Latin aequivalens, meaning “having equal value,” and passes into Old French as équivalent before evolving into modern French. Grammatically, équivalant is the masculine singular form of the present participle of équivaler, used to qualify nouns or to form set phrases. The related noun équivalent designates something that is equivalent, whereas équivalant tends to function as an adjective, though it can appear as a noun in specialized contexts such as chemistry or physics (for example, équivalant chimique in older or technical writings).

Domain-specific meanings: in mathematics and logic, two propositions are équivalentes if each implies the other; in this sense, they share the same truth value. In chemistry and related sciences, the idea of chemical equivalence is central to stoichiometry and reaction calculations, where “équivalent” (or “équivalant” in certain phrases) denotes a qualitative or quantitative measure that responds with a fixed amount of another substance. In linguistics and translation, équivalant expressions refer to phrases or sentences that convey the same meaning in different languages.

See also: équivalent, equivalence, equivalence relation, equivalent in chemistry. The term emphasizes correspondence rather than sameness as exact identity, and its precise usage varies by discipline.