apples to oranges

A form of apples and oranges — A comparison of items that, however categorically similar, is inapt; an incompatible analogy, or the items so compared; a disanalogy.

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Meanings

nounapples to oranges pl (plural only)

alternative apples-to-oranges

  1. alternativepluralplural onlyAlternative form of apples and oranges.

    Thus looking at modeled surface air temperatures versus measured global land-ocean surface temperatures is an apples-to-oranges comparison.

    2016 July 5, Dana Nuccitelli, “New research: climate may be more sensitive and situation more dire”, in The Guardian
    1 more example

    However, Google has responded by criticising “apples to oranges” comparisons to subscription-based music services like Apple Music and Spotify’s premium tier.

    2016 March 23, “YouTube and music labels clash again over ‘meagre’ artist royalties”, in The Guardian
Cite this entry
APA

apples to oranges. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/apples%20to%20oranges

MLA

“apples to oranges.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/apples%20to%20oranges. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “apples to oranges,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/apples%20to%20oranges.

Source: apples to oranges on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.