Comparables

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. Entities or items that can be likened to or matched with others due to similar characteristics or qualities ; properties or figures used as reference points for evaluation or comparison ; elements regarded as sufficiently alike to be assessed in relation to one another
2. Objects or subjects possessing attributes that allow for direct juxtaposition or equivalence ; benchmarks or standards employed to gauge similarity or value ; comparable cases or instances considered for analytical purposes
3. Things sharing common features that enable side-by-side assessment ; instances or examples used to draw parallels or contrasts in study or appraisal ; data points or items serving as a basis for comparison in analysis or decision-making

Etymology: "Comparables" is the plural of "comparable," an adjective that has been used as a noun in finance and analysis to mean the similar items against which something is measured. The adjective traces through Middle French "comparable" to the Latin "comparābilis," meaning able to be compared, and it is built from "compare" plus the suffix "-able," which marks capacity or fitness. The plural noun thus names not the qualities themselves but the things that possess them: houses that sold nearby, companies in the same industry, or cases judged alike. The noun sense developed because the adjective already implied a standard of comparison. Once a property appraiser or analyst needed a set of reference items, "comparables" became the convenient label for them, and it is now routine in real estate, valuation, and research reports.

Synonyms: equivalents, counterparts, peers, matches, parallels