heterogeneity

American  

[het-uh-roh-juh-nee-i-tee] / ˌhɛt ə roʊ dʒəˈni ɪ ti /

noun

1. the quality or state of being heterogeneous; composition from dissimilar parts; disparateness.

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heterogeneity Cultural  

1. Cultural, social, biological, or other differences within a group. (Compare homogeneity.)

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Usage

What does heterogeneity mean? Heterogeneity is the state or quality of being heterogeneous—consisting of different, distinguishable parts or elements.Heterogeneous is used in a more specific way in the context of chemistry to describe a mixture consisting of two or more different substances or the same substance in different phases of matter (such as ice and liquid water). Heterogeneity can refer to the state of such a mixture.The opposite of heterogeneity is homogeneity, which is the state of being homogeneous—consisting of parts or elements that are all the same.Example: The strength of the exhibit is its heterogeneity—it features a mix of artifacts from different cultures and eras.

Etymology

Origin of heterogeneity

From the Medieval Latin word heterogeneitās, dating back to 1635–45. See heterogeneous, -ity

Example Sentences

The technical focus and heterogeneity of artworks, styles and geographies in these first spaces make for a cluttered opening, leaving the undeniable charisma of Khmer sculpture to wait until subsequent rooms.

From The Wall Street Journal

Host heterogeneity has long been both a chief focus and a grand mystery in epidemiology.

From Salon

The findings highlight the complexity of glucose regulation in T1D and demonstrate the heterogeneity in insulin needs among people with T1D, underlining the need for personalised treatment approaches.

From Science Daily

Their data show how genetic and non-genetic factors determine the functional heterogeneity of blood cancer cells and reveal new therapeutic targets.

From Science Daily

However, the heterogeneity and low reproducibility of organoids present challenges for their scalable production, limiting their practical application in clinical trials and drug development processes.

From Science Daily