Absolute vs. Infinity: What's the Difference?

Edited by Huma Saeed || By Sawaira Riaz || Updated on October 19, 2023
"Absolute" refers to something total, not relative or moderated; "Infinity" signifies something without any limit or end, immeasurable.

Key Differences
"Absolute" represents an unqualified state, often used in philosophy, law, and science to describe something unconditional, irrespective of circumstances. In contrast, "Infinity" is a term most used in mathematics and philosophy, denoting an immeasurable quantity or unboundedness, a concept rather than a specific state or entity.

Sawaira Riaz
Oct 19, 2023
"Absolute" suggests completeness and wholeness, something that is not dependent on external factors for definition or validity. "Infinity," however, refers to endlessness or limitless extent, whether in space, quantity, or time, a concept that defies conventional understanding of depth or magnitude.

Sawaira Riaz
Oct 19, 2023
The term "Absolute" can also indicate something free from imperfection, pure and faultless, an ultimate standard. Meanwhile, "Infinity" suggests something that extends beyond normal or human comprehension, something that cannot be confined within boundaries or limitations.

Sawaira Riaz
Oct 19, 2023
In practical use, "Absolute" is often used to denote something that is certain and unequivocal, not subject to conditions or exceptions. "Infinity," on the other hand, represents the idea of endless possibility or inexhaustibility, often symbolizing an ideal or theoretical limit rather than a tangible entity.

Janet White
Oct 19, 2023
Both "Absolute" and "Infinity" serve as important concepts in various fields, the former often related to authority, truth, and precision, while the latter is associated with the eternal, the immeasurable, and the boundless.

Sawaira Riaz
Oct 19, 2023
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Comparison Chart
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Absolute and Infinity Definitions
Absolute
Not qualified or diminished in any way; total.
Her trust in him was absolute.

Sawaira Riaz
Oct 19, 2023
Infinity
Endless time; eternity.
The concept of infinity perplexes both theologians and scientists.

Sara Rehman
Oct 19, 2023
Absolute
Viewed or existing independently and not in relation to other things.
Absolute truth is rare.

Aimie Carlson
Oct 19, 2023
Infinity
A point in space or time that appears to be so distant as to be unattainable.
The road stretched into infinity.

Harlon Moss
Oct 19, 2023
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Infinity
The quality of having no limits or boundaries in time, space, extent, or magnitude.
The infinity of the cosmos has challenged thinkers throughout history.

Sawaira Riaz
Oct 19, 2023
Infinity
An infinite or extremely great number or amount.
There seemed to be an infinity of options.

Sawaira Riaz
Oct 19, 2023
Absolute
Unconstrained by constitutional or other provisions
An absolute ruler.

Sawaira Riaz
Nov 29, 2022
Infinity
(Mathematics) The limit that a function is said to approach at x = a when (x) is larger than any preassigned number for all x sufficiently near a.

Sawaira Riaz
Nov 29, 2022
Absolute
Of, relating to, or being a word, phrase, or construction that is isolated syntactically from the rest of a sentence, as the referee having finally arrived in The referee having finally arrived, the game began.

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Nov 29, 2022
Infinity
A range in relation to an optical system, such as a camera lens, representing distances great enough that light rays reflected from objects within the range may be regarded as parallel.

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Nov 29, 2022
Absolute
Of, relating to, or being a transitive verb when its object is implied but not stated. For example, inspires in We have a teacher who inspires is an absolute verb.

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Nov 29, 2022
Infinity
A distance setting, as on a camera, beyond which the entire field is in focus.

Sawaira Riaz
Nov 29, 2022
Absolute
Of, relating to, or being an adjective or pronoun that stands alone when the noun it modifies is being implied but not stated. For example, in Theirs were the best, theirs is an absolute pronoun and best is an absolute adjective.

Sawaira Riaz
Nov 29, 2022
Infinity
(uncountable) endlessness, unlimitedness, absence of a beginning, end or limits to size.

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Nov 29, 2022
Absolute
Relating to measurements or units of measurement derived from fundamental units of length, mass, and time.

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Nov 29, 2022
Infinity
A number that has an infinite numerical value that cannot be counted.

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Nov 29, 2022
Infinity
An idealised point which is said to be approached by sequences of values whose magnitudes increase without bound.

Sawaira Riaz
Nov 29, 2022
Infinity
(uncountable) A number which is very large compared to some characteristic number. For example, in optics, an object which is much further away than the focal length of a lens is said to be "at infinity", as the distance of the image from the lens varies very little as the distance increases further.

Sawaira Riaz
Nov 29, 2022
Absolute
Something regarded as the ultimate and transcendent basis of all thought and being. Used with the.

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Nov 29, 2022
Infinity
Unlimited extent of time, space, or quantity; eternity; boundlessness; immensity.
There can not be more infinities than one; for one of them would limit the other.

Sawaira Riaz
Nov 29, 2022
Absolute
Something regarded as exceeding or transcending everything else to the point of being independent and unrelated.

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Nov 29, 2022
Infinity
Unlimited capacity, energy, excellence, or knowledge; as, the infinity of God and his perfections.

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Nov 29, 2022
Absolute
Free of restrictions, limitations, qualifications or conditions; unconditional.

Sawaira Riaz
Nov 29, 2022
Infinity
Endless or indefinite number; great multitude; as an infinity of beauties.

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Nov 29, 2022
Absolute
Unrestricted by laws, a constitution, or parliamentary or judicial or other checks; (legally) unlimited in power, especially if despotic.

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Nov 29, 2022
Absolute
Free from imperfection, perfect, complete; especially, perfectly embodying a quality in its essential characteristics or to its highest degree.
Absolute purity, absolute liberty

Sawaira Riaz
Nov 29, 2022
Infinity
That part of a line, or of a plane, or of space, which is infinitely distant. In modern geometry, parallel lines or planes are sometimes treated as lines or planes meeting at infinity.

Sawaira Riaz
Nov 29, 2022
Absolute
Complete, utter, outright; unmitigated, not qualified or diminished in any way.
When caught, he told an absolute lie.
An absolute denial of all charges
You're an absolute genius!

Sawaira Riaz
Nov 29, 2022
Infinity
The state or quality of being infinite.
The universe's infinity is beyond human understanding.

Janet White
Oct 19, 2023
Absolute
(archaic) Certain; free from doubt or uncertainty (e.g. a person, opinion or prediction).

Sawaira Riaz
Nov 29, 2022
Absolute
Fundamental, ultimate, intrinsic; not relative; independent of references or relations to other things or standards.
The doctrine that absolute knowledge of things is possible, an absolute principle
Absolute rights and duties are such as pertain to man in a state of nature as contradistinguished from relative rights and duties, or such as pertain to him in his social relations.

Sawaira Riaz
Nov 29, 2022
Absolute
(physics) Independent of arbitrary units of measurement, standards, or properties; not comparative or relative.
Absolute velocity, absolute motion, absolute position

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Nov 29, 2022
Absolute
Having reference to or derived in the simplest manner from the fundamental units of mass, time, and length.

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Nov 29, 2022
Absolute
Relating to the absolute temperature scale (based on absolute zero); kelvin.

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Nov 29, 2022
Absolute
(grammar) Not immediately dependent on the other parts of the sentence; not in a syntactical relation with other parts of a text, or qualifying the text as a whole rather than any single word in it, like "it being over" in "it being over, she left".

Sawaira Riaz
Nov 29, 2022
Absolute
(of a case form) Syntactically connected to the rest of the sentence in an atypical manner, or not relating to or depending on it, like in the nominative absolute or genitive absolute, accusative absolute or ablative absolute.

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Nov 29, 2022
Absolute
(of an adjective or possessive pronoun) Lacking a modified substantive, like "hungry" in "feed the hungry".

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Nov 29, 2022
Absolute
Expressing a relative term without a definite comparison, like "older" in "an older person should be treated with respect".

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Nov 29, 2022
Absolute
(of a usually transitive verb) Having no direct object, like "kill" in "if looks could kill".

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Nov 29, 2022
Absolute
(of Celtic languages) Being or pertaining to an inflected verb that is not preceded by any number of particles or compounded with a preverb.

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Nov 29, 2022
Absolute
(math) As measured using an absolute value.
Absolute deviation
Absolute square
Mean absolute difference

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Nov 29, 2022
Absolute
(math) Indicating an expression that is true for all real numbers, or of all values of the variable; unconditional.

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Nov 29, 2022
Absolute
(education) Pertaining to a grading system based on the knowledge of the individual and not on the comparative knowledge of the group of students.

Sawaira Riaz
Nov 29, 2022
Absolute
Independent of (references to) other arts; expressing things (beauty, ideas, etc) only in one art.
Absolute music

Sawaira Riaz
Nov 29, 2022
Absolute
Indicating that a tenure or estate in land is not conditional or liable to terminate on (strictly) any occurrence or certain kinds of occurrence.
A freehold property is an estate in fee simple absolute in possession.

Sawaira Riaz
Nov 29, 2022
Absolute
That which exists (or has a certain property, nature, size, etc) independent of references to other standards or external conditions; that which is universally valid; that which is not relative, conditional, qualified or mitigated.
Moral absolutes

Sawaira Riaz
Nov 29, 2022
Absolute
(geometry) In a plane, the two imaginary circular points at infinity; in space of three dimensions, the imaginary circle at infinity.

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Nov 29, 2022
Absolute
A realm which exists without reference to anything else; that which can be imagined purely by itself; absolute ego.

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Nov 29, 2022
Absolute
The whole of reality; the totality to which everything is reduced; the unity of spirit and nature; God.

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Nov 29, 2022
Absolute
(chemistry) A concentrated natural flower oil, used for perfumes; an alcoholic extract of a concrete.

Sawaira Riaz
Nov 29, 2022
Absolute
Loosed from any limitation or condition; uncontrolled; unrestricted; unconditional; as, absolute authority, monarchy, sovereignty, an absolute promise or command; absolute power; an absolute monarch.

Sawaira Riaz
Nov 29, 2022
Absolute
Complete in itself; perfect; consummate; faultless; as, absolute perfection; absolute beauty.
So absolute she seems,And in herself complete.

Sawaira Riaz
Nov 29, 2022
Absolute
Viewed apart from modifying influences or without comparison with other objects; actual; real; - opposed to relative and comparative; as, absolute motion; absolute time or space.

Sawaira Riaz
Nov 29, 2022
Absolute
Loosed from, or unconnected by, dependence on any other being; self-existent; self-sufficing.

Sawaira Riaz
Nov 29, 2022
Absolute
Capable of being thought or conceived by itself alone; unconditioned; non-relative.
To Cusa we can indeed articulately trace, word and thing, the recent philosophy of the absolute.

Sawaira Riaz
Nov 29, 2022
Absolute
Positive; clear; certain; not doubtful.
I am absolute 't was very Cloten.

Sawaira Riaz
Nov 29, 2022
Absolute
Authoritative; peremptory.
The peddler stopped, and tapped her on the head,With absolute forefinger, brown and ringed.

Sawaira Riaz
Nov 29, 2022
Absolute
Not immediately dependent on the other parts of the sentence in government; as, the case absolute. See Ablative absolute, under Ablative.

Sawaira Riaz
Nov 29, 2022
Absolute
In a plane, the two imaginary circular points at infinity; in space of three dimensions, the imaginary circle at infinity.

Sawaira Riaz
Nov 29, 2022
Absolute
Something that is conceived to be absolute; something that does not depends on anything else and is beyond human control;
No mortal being can influence the absolute

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Nov 29, 2022
Absolute
Perfect or complete or pure;
Absolute loyalty
Absolute silence
Absolute truth
Absolute alcohol

Sawaira Riaz
Nov 29, 2022
Absolute
Complete and without restriction or qualification; sometimes used informally as intensifiers;
Absolute freedom
An absolute dimwit
A downright lie
Out-and-out mayhem
An out-and-out lie
A rank outsider
Many right-down vices
Got the job through sheer persistence
Sheer stupidity

Sawaira Riaz
Nov 29, 2022
Absolute
Expressing finality with no implication of possible change;
An absolute (or unequivocal) quarantee to respect the nation's authority
Inability to make a conclusive (or unequivocal) refusal

Sawaira Riaz
Nov 29, 2022
Absolute
Having unlimited power; unrestricted.
The monarch ruled with absolute authority.

Sawaira Riaz
Oct 19, 2023
Absolute
Perfect or pure; complete in itself.
The work was considered an absolute masterpiece.

Janet White
Oct 19, 2023
Absolute
Not subject to any limitation; unconditional.
He demanded absolute loyalty.

Sawaira Riaz
Oct 19, 2023
FAQs
Can "Absolute" refer to authority?
Yes, it can refer to total, unquestioned authority.

Sawaira Riaz
Oct 19, 2023
Is "Absolute" only used in a scientific context?
No, it's also used in philosophy, law, and everyday speech for various meanings.

Sawaira Riaz
Oct 19, 2023
Does "Absolute" mean perfect?
In some contexts, it can mean complete or pure, which might imply perfection.

Janet White
Oct 19, 2023
Does "Infinity" refer only to numbers?
No, it can also refer to unbounded space, time, or other immeasurable concepts.

Sawaira Riaz
Oct 19, 2023
Is "Absolute" always positive?
Not necessarily; it describes a total or unqualified state, not a value judgment.

Janet White
Oct 19, 2023
Can we understand "Infinity" fully?
It's a concept that generally goes beyond complete human understanding.

Harlon Moss
Oct 19, 2023
Can something be "Absolutely" certain?
In expression, yes, but it's subject to philosophical debate.

Janet White
Oct 19, 2023
Is "Infinity" a difficult concept in mathematics?
Yes, it's an advanced concept that represents an unattainable quantity.

Harlon Moss
Oct 19, 2023
Does "Infinity" have physical representation?
Not in reality, but it's often symbolized by the lemniscate (∞).

Sawaira Riaz
Oct 19, 2023
Is "Absolute power" dangerous?
It can be, as it implies unchecked authority.

Aimie Carlson
Oct 19, 2023
Is "Infinity" a paradox?
In some philosophical and mathematical discussions, it can be.

Aimie Carlson
Oct 19, 2023
Are there different types of "Infinity"?
Yes, in mathematics, there's the concept of different sizes or levels of infinity.

Harlon Moss
Oct 19, 2023
Does "Absolute" imply independence?
Often, as in not being relative to something else.

Aimie Carlson
Oct 19, 2023
Can "Infinity" exist in the real world?
It's a concept more than a tangible thing, so it's represented abstractly.

Janet White
Oct 19, 2023
About Author
Written by
Sawaira RiazSawaira is a dedicated content editor at difference.wiki, where she meticulously refines articles to ensure clarity and accuracy. With a keen eye for detail, she upholds the site's commitment to delivering insightful and precise content.

Edited by
Huma SaeedHuma is a renowned researcher acclaimed for her innovative work in Difference Wiki. Her dedication has led to key breakthroughs, establishing her prominence in academia. Her contributions continually inspire and guide her field.
