Peer vs. Pier: What's the Difference?
The words peer and pier, while sounding similar, have entirely different meanings. A peer can refer to someone of the same legal status or rank, or the act of looking searchingly at something difficult to discern. Conversely, a pier is a structure built over a body of water, usually for docking boats or providing a promenade for people.
How do you use the word peer in a sentence?
Use peer to describe a person who is equal to another in abilities, qualifications, age, background, or status. Also, apply it when someone is making a careful or intense look, as in scrutinizing an object. The term often appears in contexts associated with social standing or observation.
Examples of peer in a sentence
- At the academy, every cadet is treated as a peer regardless of their background.
- To check if the painting was authentic, the expert had to peer closely at the brush strokes.
- She felt honored to be recognized as a peer by the industry veterans.
How do you use the word pier in a sentence?
The word pier is commonly used to refer to the raised platform extending into a body of water, which is used for boarding and offloading ships, fishing, or as a leisure area. You’ll often find it in discussions of coastal architecture or ocean-related activities.
Examples of pier in a sentence
- They enjoyed a romantic evening walk along the pier, watching the sunset over the ocean.
- The cargo ship was carefully maneuvered towards the pier for unloading.
- Anglers lined the pier, casting their lines into the early morning sea.
Peer and pier definition, parts of speech, and pronunciation
Peer definition:
Peer (noun) is someone or something of equal rank, status, or quality. As a verb, it means to look attentively or closely at something that is not immediately obvious.
Peer parts of speech:
Peer pronunciation:
Peer is pronounced as /pɪər/ or /peer/.
Pier definition:
Pier (noun) is a structure built out into a body of water that serves as a docking or boarding place for ships or as a recreational spot for people.
Pier parts of speech:
Pier pronunciation:
Pier is pronounced as /pɪər/ or /peer/, similar to peer but distinguished by context.
Peer (noun) is someone or something of equal rank, status, or quality. As a verb, it means to look attentively or closely at something that is not immediately obvious.
Peer parts of speech:
- As a noun: She has always been considered a peer in her professional community.
- As a verb: If you peer through the telescope, you can see the craters on the moon.
Peer pronunciation:
Peer is pronounced as /pɪər/ or /peer/.
Pier definition:
Pier (noun) is a structure built out into a body of water that serves as a docking or boarding place for ships or as a recreational spot for people.
Pier parts of speech:
- As a noun: The old wooden pier was a favorite gathering spot for fishing enthusiasts.
- Another as a noun (no other common usage): The storm caused significant damage to the structure of the pier.
Pier pronunciation:
Pier is pronounced as /pɪər/ or /peer/, similar to peer but distinguished by context.
Peer vs. pier in a nutshell
Although peer and pier are homophones, they occupy entirely different spheres of meaning. A peer can be an individual of the same rank or status, or it can describe the action of examining something with close attention. Alternatively, a pier is always a noun, representing a structure jutting into the water, used for commercial, transportation, or recreational purposes. Understanding the context in which each word is used is key to distinguishing between these two commonly confused terms.
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