What is the term for the state of being similar?

The term "similarities" refers to the quality or state of being alike or having common characteristics. When discussing two or more subjects, identifying their similarities helps to illustrate the ways in which they share features or traits, which can be helpful in analysis and comparison. In various contexts, recognizing similarities can aid in making connections or understanding relationships between different entities, making this term particularly relevant when discussing comparisons or analogies.

In contrast, dissimilarity refers to the absence of similarity, which would indicate differences rather than commonalities. The option of comparison goes beyond just identifying similarities; it involves evaluating the relationships or differences between items, which might not be the precise term one would use for the state of being similar. Analogies involve drawing parallels or comparisons between different subjects, often highlighting similarities indirectly, but they do not directly define the state of being similar in itself. Thus, "similarities" effectively encapsulates the concept of sameness in attributes or qualities.