case and instance share a recorded sense, so the question is not what they mean but which one fits. case means “an occurrence of something”. instance means “an occurrence of something”. case is the more common of the two in everyday English.
/ˈkeɪs/
1.n.an occurrence of something
“it was a case of bad judgment”
2.n.a special set of circumstances
“in that event, the first possibility is excluded”
3.n.a comprehensive term for any proceeding in a court of law whereby an individual seeks a legal remedy
“the family brought suit against the landlord”
/ˈɪnstəns/
1.n.an occurrence of something
“it was a case of bad judgment”
2.n.an item of information that is typical of a class or group
“this patient provides a typical example of the syndrome”
3.v.clarify by giving an example of
| case | instance | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | /ˈkeɪs/ | /ˈɪnstəns/ |
| Said | kays | IN-stuhns |
| Syllables | 1 | 2 |
| Letters | 4 | 8 |
| Parts of speech | noun, verb | noun, verb |
| Senses | 22 | 3 |
| How common | Core | Common |
| Synonyms | instance, example | case, example |
Full entry for case · Full entry for instance · More comparisons