heterogeneity

[het-uh-roh-juh-nee-i-tee]

noun

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

heterogeneity

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of heterogeneity¹

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

Example Sentences

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

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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.

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

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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.

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“We cannot lose all the energy and complexity and heterogeneity of our cities.”

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When To Use

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.