homogeneity
Americannoun
Usage
What does homogeneity mean? Homogeneity is the state or quality of being homogeneous—consisting of parts or elements that are all the same. Something described as homogeneous is uniform in nature or character throughout. Homogeneous can also be used to describe multiple things that are all essentially alike or of the same kind. It’s especially used to refer to the state of a society, culture, or situation that lacks variety or diversity. The word is often used in the context of criticism that implies that such things are biased, boring, or bland. In the context of chemistry, homogeneous is used to describe a mixture that is uniform in structure or composition. Homogeneity can be used to refer to the state of such a mixture. The general sense of homogeneous can be used interchangeably with the word homogenous (which is spelled without a second e and is pronounced differently). When used in this general way, homogenous is more commonly used than homogeneous. Homogeneity can be used in reference to either word. The opposite of homogeneity is heterogeneity, which is the state of being heterogeneous—consisting of different, distinguishable parts or elements. Example: The homogeneity of this suburb is extreme—even the houses all look the same.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of homogeneity
First recorded in 1615–25; from Medieval Latin homogeneitās, from homogene(us) homogeneous + -itās -ity
Explanation
Homogeneity is the sameness of things. If you're looking for homogeneity in your wardrobe, you'll want shirts and jeans that all have something similar about them. Homogeneity can also mean that something is the same throughout. Plain yogurt has a homogeneity about it — it's white all the way through and it should be the same texture throughout. On the other hand, yogurt with fruit at the bottom can be described as having heterogeneity — different textures and different colors. The Greek root homo-, means "same," and genos means "race" or "kind" — so homogeneity is the quality of being "the same kind."
Vocabulary lists containing homogeneity
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.
Homogeneity: Use the test for homogeneity to decide if two populations with unknown distributions have the same distribution.
From Textbooks • Mar. 27, 2020
Test for Homogeneity a test used to draw a conclusion about whether two populations have the same distribution.
From Textbooks • Nov. 29, 2017
My culture made a Faustian pact, on my behalf, with those devilish tyrants Speed, Numbers, Homogeneity, Efficiency and Schedules, and now I’m telling the devil I want my soul back.
From The Guardian • Dec. 19, 2016
Homogeneity: Use the test for homogeneity to decide if two populations with unknown distributions have the same distribution as each other.
From Textbooks • Sep. 19, 2013
Homogeneity and like-mindedness are, as explanations of the social behavior of men and animals, very closely related concepts.
From Introduction to the Science of Sociology by Park, Robert Ezra
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.
