What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
traction
Example
The car's tires had good traction on the wet road. [traction: noun]
Example
The hiker used spikes on their shoes for better traction on the icy trail. [traction: noun]
adhesion
Example
The glue had strong adhesion to the paper. [adhesion: noun]
Example
The paint wouldn't adhere to the wall without a primer. [adhere: verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Traction is more commonly used than adhesion in everyday language, especially in the context of transportation or sports. Adhesion is more commonly used in scientific or technical contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between traction and adhesion?
Adhesion is generally considered more formal than traction, as it is often used in scientific or technical writing. However, both words can be used in various formality levels depending on the context.
