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Coextension for Dummies

noun

pronunciation: ,koʊɪk'stɛnʃən

What does Coextension really mean?

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Coextension is a word that might sound a bit complicated at first, but I'm here to help you understand it easily. Imagine you have a really close friend, someone you do everything with. You have so much in common that people often mistake you for being siblings. That's kind of what coextension means – when two things are so similar or alike that they almost seem to be the same thing.

Let's break it down a bit further. You know how some words can have more than one meaning, right? Well, "coextension" is one of those words. It can mean different things depending on the context.

In one sense, coextension is when two things have the same meaning or refer to the same concept. It's like when you have two different words, but they are used to describe the exact same thing. For example, imagine you are talking about the words "cat" and "feline." Even though they are different words, they both refer to the same furry, four-legged animal. So, we say that the words "cat" and "feline" have coextension because they represent the same idea.

Now, in another sense, coextension can also refer to two things that share the same extension or include the exact same objects or individuals. It's like when you have two different groups, but they have exactly the same members. Let me give you an example to make it easier to understand. Imagine you have Group A, which includes all the animals in your backyard, and Group B, which includes all the animals in your neighborhood. If every single animal in your backyard is also in your neighborhood, then we say that Group A and Group B have coextension.

So, in a nutshell, coextension is about things that are really similar, either in meaning or in the objects they include. It's like having two words that mean the same thing or two groups that have exactly the same members. It's all about two things being so close, you can almost consider them as one.

I hope that helps! Let me know if there's anything else you'd like me to explain or if you have any more questions.

Revised and Fact checked by Linda Miller on 2023-10-28 05:37:01

Coextension In a sentece

Learn how to use Coextension inside a sentece

  • Coextension can be used to describe how the words 'dog' and 'canine' have the same meaning, because they refer to the same type of animal.
  • When we say that the words 'apple' and 'fruit' have a coextension, it means that they both refer to the same category of things.
  • In the sentence 'John is a doctor', the word 'doctor' and the phrase 'medical professional' have a coextension because they both refer to the same occupation.
  • If we say that 'rectangle' and 'parallelogram' have a coextension, it means that they both refer to the same shape with four sides.
  • When we talk about 'September' and 'the ninth month of the year', we are referring to the same period of time, so they have a coextension.

Coextension Hypernyms

Words that are more generic than the original word.