difference
Americannoun
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the state or relation of being different; dissimilarity.
There is a great difference between the two.
- Synonyms:
- contrariety, contrast, divergence, inequality, imbalance, diversity, variation, inconsistency
- Antonyms:
- agreement, similarity
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an instance or point of unlikeness or dissimilarity.
What accounts for the differences in their behavior?
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a significant change in or effect on a situation.
His tact makes a difference in the way people accept his suggestions.
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a distinguishing characteristic; distinctive quality, feature, etc..
The difference in the two products is quality.
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the degree to which one person or thing differs from another.
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the act of distinguishing; discrimination; distinction.
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a disagreement in opinion.
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a dispute or quarrel.
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Also called finite distance. Mathematics.
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the amount by which one quantity is greater or less than another.
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(of a functionf ) an expression of the form f (x +h ) − f (x ).
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a differentia.
verb (used with object)
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to cause or constitute a difference in or between; make different.
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to perceive the difference in or between; discriminate.
idioms
noun
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the state or quality of being unlike
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a specific instance of being unlike
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a distinguishing mark or feature
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a significant change in a situation
the difference in her is amazing
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a disagreement or argument
he had a difference with his wife
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a degree of distinctness, as between two people or things
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the result of the subtraction of one number, quantity, etc, from another
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the single number that when added to the subtrahend gives the minuend; remainder
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logic another name for differentia
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maths
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A – B. the set of members of the first that are not members of the second
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Often symbolized: A + B. the set of members of one but not both of the given sets
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heraldry an addition to the arms of a family to represent a younger branch
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to have an effect
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to treat differently
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to settle a dispute by a compromise
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to divide a remainder equally
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with some peculiarly distinguishing quality, good or bad
verb
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rare to distinguish
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heraldry to add a charge to (arms) to differentiate a branch of a family
Related Words
Difference, discrepancy, disparity, dissimilarity imply perceivable unlikeness, variation, or diversity. Difference refers to a lack of identity or a degree of unlikeness: a difference of opinion; a difference of six inches. Discrepancy usually refers to an inconsistency between things that should agree, balance, or harmonize: a discrepancy between the statements of two witnesses. Disparity implies inequality, often where a greater equality might reasonably be expected: a great disparity between the ages of husband and wife. Dissimilarity indicates an essential lack of resemblance between things in some respect comparable: a dissimilarity between social customs in Asia and America. See distinction.
Etymology
Origin of difference
First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin differentia, equivalent to different- “scattering, dispersing” ( different ( def. ) ) + -ia -ia ( def. ); -ence ( def. )
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The idea that sponge skeletons evolved more than once is supported by both structural and genetic differences among living species.
From Science Daily
The study also revealed pronounced differences between males and females.
From Science Daily
There’s also a clear difference between Scottish salmon and fish of other regions.
From Salon
It’s essentially the difference between book smarts and street smarts.
From MarketWatch
It can make a difference for a house with two or more bedrooms.
From MarketWatch
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
