Gradation: meaning, definitions and examples

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gradation

[ɡreɪˈdeɪʃən ]

Definitions

^{Context #1 | Noun}

measurement

A series of successive stages or degrees; a gradual or subtle change.

Synonyms

progression, sequence.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
gradation	This is the same word, likely intended to emphasize range of contexts. Use for subtle differences in any gradual transition, including shades, tones, or levels. The company's new policy includes a clear gradation of employee benefits based on years of service. The landscape architect created a garden with a gradation of plant heights to add depth.
progression	Applicable for describing a forward or onward movement through stages or steps; often used in music, education, and development. The chord progression in the song gave it a very catchy melody. His rapid progression through the ranks was due to his hard work and dedication.
sequence	Often used to describe a specific order of events, steps, or numbers, usually implying a logical or planned arrangement. Make sure to follow the sequence of instructions when assembling the furniture. The film’s narrative sequence was non-linear, which made it interesting to follow.

Word

Description / Examples

gradation

This is the same word, likely intended to emphasize range of contexts. Use for subtle differences in any gradual transition, including shades, tones, or levels.

The company's new policy includes a clear gradation of employee benefits based on years of service.
The landscape architect created a garden with a gradation of plant heights to add depth.

progression

Applicable for describing a forward or onward movement through stages or steps; often used in music, education, and development.

The chord progression in the song gave it a very catchy melody.
His rapid progression through the ranks was due to his hard work and dedication.

sequence

Often used to describe a specific order of events, steps, or numbers, usually implying a logical or planned arrangement.

Make sure to follow the sequence of instructions when assembling the furniture.
The film’s narrative sequence was non-linear, which made it interesting to follow.

Examples of usage

There is a gradation in color from light to dark.
The gradation of difficulty in the test questions was noticeable.

^{Context #2 | Noun}

sociology

A social system or structure of hierarchy or rank.

Synonyms

hierarchy, order, rank.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
gradation	Used mainly to describe a series of gradual changes or stages, especially in terms of color, light, or nuance. The artist carefully blended the colors to ensure a smooth gradation from dark to light. The mountain’s slope showed a clear gradation in vegetation types as altitude increased.
hierarchy	Used to describe a system where people or things are ranked one above the other according to status, authority, or importance. The company's hierarchy places the CEO at the top and interns at the bottom. In many ancient societies, the hierarchy was strictly maintained and difficult to change.
rank	Often used in military or organizational settings to delineate relative positions or levels, sometimes carries a negative connotation when referring to status among people. He was promoted to the rank of captain after years of service. The employees were ranked according to their performance in the annual review.
order	Generally refers to an organized arrangement or sequence, or can imply control and systematic structure in chaotic conditions. The library arranges books in alphabetical order by author. The police were called in to restore order during the protest.

Examples of usage

The gradation of ranks in the military is well-defined.
The gradation of authority in the organization is clear.

^{Context #3 | Noun}

linguistics

A change in pronunciation of a sound or word within a language.

Synonyms

pronunciation shift, vowel modification.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
gradation	This term can also be used in linguistics to describe stages or degrees of intensity. The phonetic gradation in the pronunciation of certain words can signify different meanings The gradation in vocal intensity added depth to the performance
pronunciation shift	This term is used specifically in linguistics to denote a change in the way a particular word or sound is pronounced over time or in different dialects. The pronunciation shift of certain vowels over the centuries can be fascinating to study Due to a pronunciation shift, the word ‘schedule’ is said differently in British and American English
vowel modification	Use this term in linguistics to discuss changes that occur to vowels in different grammatical forms, contexts, or dialectical variations. In some Germanic languages, vowel modification is a common phenomenon Vowel modification in the plural form of some words can alter both the sound and meaning

Word

Description / Examples

gradation

This term can also be used in linguistics to describe stages or degrees of intensity.

The phonetic gradation in the pronunciation of certain words can signify different meanings
The gradation in vocal intensity added depth to the performance

pronunciation shift

This term is used specifically in linguistics to denote a change in the way a particular word or sound is pronounced over time or in different dialects.

The pronunciation shift of certain vowels over the centuries can be fascinating to study
Due to a pronunciation shift, the word ‘schedule’ is said differently in British and American English

vowel modification

Use this term in linguistics to discuss changes that occur to vowels in different grammatical forms, contexts, or dialectical variations.

In some Germanic languages, vowel modification is a common phenomenon
Vowel modification in the plural form of some words can alter both the sound and meaning

Examples of usage

The gradation of vowels in Old English led to modern English pronunciation differences.
The gradation of consonants in Spanish varies by region.

Interesting Facts

Etymology

The word comes from the Latin 'gradatio,' meaning 'a step' or 'a degree.'
It's related to the word 'grade,' which is used to describe levels of quality or steps in education.

Art and Design

In visual arts, gradation refers to smoothly blending colors or tones, creating depth and dimension.
Graphic designers use gradation to enhance emphasis and create visual flow in their work.

Science

In ecology, gradation can describe the gradual change of one habitat into another, such as a forest transitioning into grassland.
In chemistry, it can explain how the concentration of substances transitions in solutions.

Psychology

Research indicates that people perceive color gradation differently, affecting mood and emotion.
Gradation can also refer to the way people learn concepts in steps, allowing for organic understanding over time.

Education

Gradation is often used in grading systems to assess student performance, moving from one level of mastery to another.
In lesson planning, educators utilize gradation to scaffold learning, gradually increasing the difficulty of tasks.

Translations

Translations of the word "gradation" in other languages:

🇵🇹 graduação

🇮🇳 अग्रेगण

🇩🇪 Graduierung

🇮🇩 gradasi

🇺🇦 градація

🇵🇱 gradacja

🇯🇵 グラデーション

🇫🇷 gradation

🇪🇸 gradación

🇹🇷 derecelendirme

🇰🇷 등급

🇸🇦 تدرج

🇨🇿 gradace

🇸🇰 gradácia

🇨🇳 渐变

🇸🇮 gradacija

🇮🇸 stigskipting

🇰🇿 градация

🇬🇪 გრადაცია

🇦🇿 gradasiya

🇲🇽 gradación

Word Frequency Rank

With rank #17,388, this word belongs to specialized vocabulary. While not common in everyday speech, it enriches your ability to express complex ideas.

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17385 serous
17386 resurgence
17387 tooling
17388 gradation
17389 resonator
17390 dolphins
17391 uncommonly
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