difference

[ dif-er-uhns, dif-ruhns ]
See synonyms for: differencedifferenceddifferencesdifferencing on Thesaurus.com

noun
  1. the state or relation of being different; dissimilarity: There is a great difference between the two.

  2. an instance or point of unlikeness or dissimilarity: What accounts for the differences in their behavior?

  1. a significant change in or effect on a situation: His tact makes a difference in the way people accept his suggestions.

  2. a distinguishing characteristic; distinctive quality, feature, etc.: The difference in the two products is quality.

  3. the degree to which one person or thing differs from another.

  4. the act of distinguishing; discrimination; distinction.

  5. a disagreement in opinion.

  6. a dispute or quarrel.

  7. Also called finite distance. Mathematics.

    • the amount by which one quantity is greater or less than another.

    • (of a function f) an expression of the form f(x + h) − f(x).

  8. a differentia.

verb (used with object),dif·fer·enced, dif·fer·enc·ing.
  1. to cause or constitute a difference in or between; make different.

  2. to perceive the difference in or between; discriminate.

Idioms about difference

  1. split the difference,

    • to compromise, especially to make equal concessions.

    • to divide the remainder equally: Let's take half of the cake and let the three of them split the difference.

Origin of difference

1
First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin differentia, equivalent to different- “scattering, dispersing” (see different) + -ia -ia; see -ence

synonym study For difference

1. 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. 6. See distinction.

Other words for difference

Opposites for difference

Words Nearby difference

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use difference in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for difference

difference

/ (ˈdɪfərəns, ˈdɪfrəns) /


noun
  1. the state or quality of being unlike

  2. a specific instance of being unlike

  1. a distinguishing mark or feature

  2. a significant change in a situation: the difference in her is amazing

  3. a disagreement or argument: he had a difference with his wife

  4. a degree of distinctness, as between two people or things

    • the result of the subtraction of one number, quantity, etc, from another

    • the single number that when added to the subtrahend gives the minuend; remainder

  5. logic another name for differentia

  6. maths (of two sets)

    • the set of members of the first that are not members of the second: Symbol: A – B

    • symmetric difference the set of members of one but not both of the given sets: Often symbolized: A + B

  7. heraldry an addition to the arms of a family to represent a younger branch

  8. make a difference

    • to have an effect

    • to treat differently

  9. split the difference

    • to settle a dispute by a compromise

    • to divide a remainder equally

  10. with a difference with some peculiarly distinguishing quality, good or bad

verb(tr)
  1. rare to distinguish

  2. heraldry to add a charge to (arms) to differentiate a branch of a family

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with difference

difference

see make a difference; split the difference. Also see under different.

The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.