diversify

American  

[dih-vur-suh-fahy, dahy-] / dɪˈvɜr səˌfaɪ, daɪ- /

verb (used with object)

diversifies, present (3rd person singular) diversified, past participle, past diversifying present participle

1. to make diverse, as in form or character; give variety or diversity to; variegate.

2. to invest in different types of (securities, industries, etc.).

3. to produce different types of (manufactured products, crops, etc.).

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verb (used without object)

diversifies, present (3rd person singular) diversified, past participle, past diversifying present participle

1. to invest in different types of industries, securities, etc.

2. to add different types of manufactured products, crops, etc., especially to a business.

diversify British  

/ daɪˈvɜːsɪˌfaɪ /

verb

1. (tr) to create different forms of; variegate; vary

2. (of an enterprise) to vary (products, operations, etc) in order to spread risk, expand, etc

3. to distribute (investments) among several securities in order to spread risk

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• undiversifying
  noun
• diversifier
  noun
• diversifiability
  noun
• overdiversify
  verb
• diversifiable
  adjective

Conjugated Forms

Present

• have diversified
  perfect
• has diversified
  perfect 3rd person singular
• has been diversifying
  perfect progressive 3rd person singular
• am diversifying
  progressive 1st person singular
• diversifying
  participle
• are diversifying
  progressive
• have been diversifying
  perfect progressive
• is diversifying
  progressive 3rd person singular
• diversifies
  singular 3rd person

Past

• had diversified
  perfect
• was diversifying
  progressive singular
• diversified
  participle
• were diversifying
  progressive plural
• had been diversifying
  perfect progressive
• diversified
  simple

Future

• will diversify
  simple
• will have diversified
  perfect
• will have been diversifying
  perfect progressive
• will be diversifying
  progressive

Etymology

Origin of diversify

1400–50; late Middle English < Anglo-French diversifier < Medieval Latin dīversificāre, equivalent to Latin dīvers ( us ) diverse + -ificāre -ify

Explanation

Diversify means to vary in type. It's often used to discuss risk in financial activities. You might diversify your investments by spreading your wealth among different types of stocks. You may have noticed that diversify looks like the word diverse, an adjective that describes showing variety and difference. If you want to diversify your interests, that means you want to mix it up and do more than just play Dungeons and Dragons all the time — you might become active in sports, theater, and the math club. Diversify can also describe expanding into new areas. A company might diversify by sending its sales force into Asia and Latin America.

Example Sentences

Prepaid forward contracts let employees borrow against their shares for a set period and use the proceeds to diversify their portfolio.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 9, 2026

"Through this partnership, SK hynix will diversify into new markets Nvidia is creating -- spanning AI infrastructure, personal AI and physical AI," through co-developing memory components for Nvidia hardware, it said.

From Barron's • Jun. 8, 2026

It’s especially great if you’re looking to up your omega-3 intake and diversify your source of protein.

From Salon • Jun. 6, 2026

But fishing quotas in the Atlantic and conflicts around the world have pushed the price of cod higher than ever before, meaning chippies are having to diversify.

From BBC • Jun. 5, 2026

“The board thought that it was best to diversify our program.”

From "Glitch" by Laura Martin

Related Words

• expand
• transform